Current Mailbag - Mailbag Archive Index - DCRTV Front Page - Support DCRTV DCRTV Mailbag - November 16 to November 25, 2007 Latest messages listed first..... \/ November 25 Messages \/ Someone may have posted this already, but just in case. If you have Tivo and Sirius, it is possible to listen like the old days. The Sirius broadcast is a few seconds behind the digital broadcast. Pause the Tivo for a few short seconds, and you are in business. Now if we could just win a game... (11/25/07) Dave's response: I guess you could do that with any DVR, like Comcast's..... Just read this and really had to laugh: "Live Nation recently signed Madonna for $100 million...they are the Clear Channel of live entertainment..."F" Live Nation!" Ummm they ARE Clear Channel. It is one on of the ways they slime are sneaking from radio into other markets. Just like the are RCS, Prophet, and Total Traffic Network. BTW Peter Ferrara and the rest of the HD goofs used to be execs at Clear Channel. They are among us. (11/25/07) The Redskins radio team is just awful. Sam Huff is washed up, bumbling and tired. Sonny is just God awful and cannot pronounce the word "throw." He picks the Skins to win every single week! There is absolutely no logic with him. The new guy is pretty good but certainly not yet up to the standard of Frank Herzog. If Dan Snyder was as business savvy as people made him out to be; he would replace that radio team, yesterday. The City Paper article was very polite. The fact is: They blow! (11/25/07) RE: "And if they don't act fast - and it may already be too late - that fancy HD Radio receiver will be laying at the bottom of the sea, along with the remains of AM Stereo. More Rants....." Hahahaha tell us something we don't know. HD has been done for a long time now. When you have PD's that feel that programming several stations (IE clear channel techniques) is more than enough, production staff that are already over-taxed creating more elements for something they know no one will listen to, engineers that know it is technically flawed, GM's that don't want to pay the additional fees, and so on and so on......maybe when Ibiquity, Peter Ferrara, and the rest of the Barnum and Bailey hypsters start marketing correctly HD may have a shot, but that was two years ago. Stick a fork in it....it's done! (11/25/07) GREASE is getting hosed bigtime!!! My brother saw him the other day and had a quick chat with the DOODAD DADDY. Said he was as cool as ever and when he asked him why he was taking a break he said he was sick of his "routine" and tired of trying to get back to the big time that he once was.. He also said he hadn't stopped long enough to check out regular life. I hope he gets back to the bigtime like shitbreath Imus has. It's a double standard for the king of the doublespeak. AMF from bethesda... (11/25/07) Marc- If you must call someone a moron, try to at least spell it correctly. To call someone a "mornon" kinda takes the sting out of your rebuke. Capiche? (11/25/07) To The Mornon Who typed in all CAPS about Friday Night Smackdown not being on on Friday November 30 because of the NBA Game (by the way who the hell cares?), Friday Night Smackdown will be airing Saturday December 1 at 8PM on The CW Washington. It's no different than what they do in New York City/Hartford when The NY Mets Games are on CW11/CW20 on a Friday Night. Smackdown gets bumped to Saturdays. Marc (11/25/07) Regarding your rant: Where you say "iPods and their many immitators". That is not right to say that. Just like cell phone, computers and other electronic devices, their are several mp3 players on the market, which are not immitators. We have to have competition because we can't have a monopoly. The iPod unfairly dominates the market and other players such as Creative don't get recognition. Creative invented the iPod's interface, which Apple stole for the iPod. Creative owns the patent for the interface. Creative's first mp3 player came out in 1999, 2 years before the iPod. It's award winning Zen Vision:M kills the iPod, with more features for less money. It just released a new ZEN which kills the iPod Nano and their are rumors a new xi-fi player is due in January. Creative is the worldwide leader in digital entertainment products for the personal computer (PC) and the Internet, which Apple is just a computer company who stole the show from Creative and Sony, who were competing quietly until the iPod came along. It's not fair every company makes accessories for only the iPod and not the other players. So the correct saying to say is iPod, Zen, Zune or other MP3 player. (11/25/07) I have to take offense at the term "tasteless racist joke" when describing what Imus said. I must assume that is your opinion as there are no quotation marks. Describing it as tasteless is debatable. Patrice O'Neal found it funny and so did many other people. Here is a old white man trying to talk like he is from the street. I also must disagree with calling it racist. Racial, yes, but racist? Everytime a black comedian uses the white guy voice or walk would thus be considered racist. That is simply not true. It's a good thing he didn't call them a derogatory term for a lesbian as well. Has anyone seen Isiah Washington lately? We need to stop censoring shocking humor and go after tasteless and unfunny humor such as Dane Cook, Sinbad, and Carlos Mencia. Paul (11/25/07) Dave's response: Whoops. I should have said it was a "tasteless racist and sexist joke" regarding Imus. Even describing it as a "joke" is debatable..... (excerpt) However, I have noticed that when the regular female anchors aren't there, their substitutes seem to be auditioning or positioning themselves to replace the regulars. (end excerpt) You're just noticing this now? TV's been that way since the 50s. And Broadway before that. And opera. And dramatic theater. That's where new performers come from; something radio seems to have forgotten when it automated and voice-tracked. (11/25/07) I cannot believe the fact MoCo officials would not be receptive to Seth Hurwitz's offer to build a better nightclub at a lower price than what Live Nation is proposing. $8 million in taxpayer money and a lease of $3/square foot to those bastards is insane! Live Nation recently signed Madonna for $100 million...they are the Clear Channel of live entertainment..."F" Live Nation! I live in Alexandria and would not hesitate to go to Silver Spring to see a live performance if I knew Seth was running the show. I literally grew up at the 9:30 Club and there is no better venue to see a national or up-and-coming act. To anybody that agrees...raise your voice, make a phone call, send an e-mail to that moron who's trying to push the Live Nation deal through because it would "hurt the credibility of county officials" if it didn't happen...bulls**t! (11/25/07) Re: Your rant about HD radio. Every company offering specialized programming on HD-2 should also be streaming it on-line. Clear Channel does this in many of their markets. The public doesn't have a clue about HD radio, but they understand streaming. Nobody's going to shell out for an HD radio before they know if there's anything worth listening to, and the best way to do that is to stream it. Just my 2 cents. (11/25/07) Dave's response: One of the major blunders with HD Radio is making stations agree to keep the extra streams non-commercial for the first few years. By promoting their HD2 or HD3 channels, stations fear that they'll take listeners away from the commercials on their main channel. Therefore, many of the DC and Baltimore radio execs I've talked to give HD Radio little more than "lip service." It wouldn't have taken a rocket scientist to figure out that this would happen. Duh..... Regarding the City Paper article, Sam Huff has always portrayed the role of kind of a country bumpkin on the Skins radio broadcasts. So while undoubtedly their has been some decline due to age, the radio broadcasts of the games are still quite good. Although they do miss Herzog. But to be fair, I had thought Herzog had lost some of his edge prior to his being fired by Danny Boy. (11/25/07) This is sort of a local item since it involves a former local anchor and may be considered kinda picky. But, I was watching the Weekend Today show this morning and noticed that Amy Robach wasn't on there. I assumed she was off for the holiday as was Lester Holt. Lester's replacement was David Gregory who after each break said he was in for Lester who took time off. Amy's replacement was some woman named Janet who after each break made no mention of Amy Robach even existing. However, I have noticed that when the regular female anchors aren't there, their substitutes seem to be auditioning or positioning themselves to replace the regulars. Amy Robach did the same when Campbell was about to leave. They just seem a little too gregarious for me. (11/25/07) Dave...what's the legality of one tv network using a feed from another? This morning I saw a business update from MNBC being used on channel 7 which is ABC (the "peacock" was quite visible and the ABC 7 logo was in the bottom right corner). (11/25/07) Dave's response: Stations and networks frequently use news and sports videoclips from rivals. In most cases, as long as the source is credited - via a logo - there probably isn't a problem..... Dave McKenna writes.."Huff’s decline has been as painful for fans as was Herzog’s dismissal". Wow. After the first game of the season I wrote in the mailbag that something was seriously wrong with Sam Huff and cited several examples of his bizarre commentary. Several readers immediately wrote that it was just part of his shtick and a planned act to keep listeners tuned in. (11/25/07) NO FRIDAY NIGHT SMACKDOWN ON THE CW WASHINGTON THIS FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 30TH AS THIS STATION IS CONTRACTUALLY OBLIGATED TO CARRY THE WIZARDS-SIXERS BASKETBALL GAME! (11/25/07) Dave, hope you and everyone on the Mailbag had a great Thanksgiving. Just returned from visiting my folks in Maryland and didn't have access to a computer. It is always difficult to hear when a fellow broadcaster is ill. Sean Hall: You will be in our prayers and know that your broadcast family on the Mailbag is thinking of you. Keep visualizing your continued recovery even when things seem to be the most difficult. You will get there and know that God is with you always. Blessings. Joyce Conroy (WHFC) (11/25/07) /\ November 25 Messages /\ \/ November 24 Messages \/ Back in the old days of Rabbit Ears and even analog cable … you could watch the game, turn down the sound, and listen to Sonny, Sam and Frank … I would still do that … but the radio coverage is a few seconds ahead of the digital hd cable and satellite signals … very disconcerting … maybe Comcast could come up with an alternate channel that syncs the picture and the radio feed … XXX/Redskins Radio/BIG100 delay it’s signal to match the HD/Satellite coverage? - Marty (11/24/07) Dave's response: The delay is different depending on your reception/receiver combination. Ever flip between analog Channel 5 and digital Channel 5? There's a delay. And Channel 5 delivered via satellite, a la DirecTV, would have a different delay. And some receivers, especially the digital/HDTV kind, buffer or delay the signal by a few seconds. Ditto with digital/HDTV cable/satellite boxes, particularly DVRs. And then there's Triple X radio, which has to delay the audio in order to cut out nasty words. And then there's audio fed via XM, which also has a satellite delay. Yup, the good old days of syncing the radio audio and TV video of the Redskins is long gone..... Re: Frank Herzog. Danny Boy's loss is WTOP's gain. (11/24/07) "The Final Countdown?" article in The City Paper was right on the money. I take issue with only one small point: calling Frank Herzog a news "reader" on WTOP. All the news and sports anchors on WTOP write. Nobody is simply a "reader" like at the BBC. They are working newspeople, not just voices. Fen. (11/24/07) Heidi Bread….what a great name for a “porno queen”…”Have you eaten Heidi Bread Today?” LOL-BOBB (11/24/07) Here's a refresher on singing the Pick Temple Heidi Bread song, and also a lesson (perhaps) why NOT to grab your camera after wallowing in T-Day dinner wine: www.youtube.com (11/24/07) Cain't some CBer buy the guy a leen-yer to boost the power of that 105 relay of WTMD? (11/24/07) Dave's response: WTMD's 105.5 comes in surprisingly good while driving around Fairfax City..... Best wishes to Sean Hall, one of the classiest folks with whom I've ever had the privilege of working. Sean is a professional to the core. FYI, Sean did the last Mutual newscast out of Crystal City, 8/29/98. Hang in there Sean and Michele! Jim Bohannon, Westwood One. (11/24/07) My Pick Temple memory is from pretty early on in the Civil Rights movement. Pick had a group of kids shooting squirt guns at a target for prizes. Apparently, some of the stage hands were pretty prejudiced because the only African-American kid was not getting the winners' sound effect, no matter how accurate his aim was. Pick kept urging him on until he finally said, out of the corner of his mouth, "I'll bet you'll win THIS time... or, there might be some unemployed people backstage tomorrow!" So, the boy shot, hit the target, got the sound effect and excitedly screamed out, "I got the motherf---er that time, Pick! Didja see it? I GOT that motherf---er!" To his credit, Pick recovered well after a three second pause to look like a stunned mullet! - Ed. Rodriguez, live from The Fabulous Florida Keys, and online at US1Radio.com and ConchCountry.com. (11/24/07) Dear friend, I need your help on the programming dispute Comcast is having with the Big Ten Network (BTN) and Fox about carrying BTN. As you may know, this fall BTN took away some football games from fans that had always been on broadcast TV or on other cable channels and put them on their very expensive new network. Now, they’re pulling many more basketball games off of free TV and basic cable and are blocking fans from watching them. We see this as a bad precedent. We have been very clear with BTN – we are prepared to carry them right now on our optional Sports Entertainment Package, so BTN can be available to customers who want it but not have it forced on customers who would rather not see the Network and pay more for it. BTN and Fox so far have said “no.” If BTN is successful in its attempt to force all customers to pay this “BTN tax” on their bills, other college conferences are likely to follow with their own networks. That is why I am asking you for your help on this issue – it has potential significant consequences for all of our customers around the country. I encourage you to visit www.puttingfansfirst.com and join. It takes just a couple of minutes to visit the site, click on the tab that says "Take Action,” and sign the online petition. I would also like you to ask 5 of your friends, neighbors, or family members to join www.puttingfansfirst.com to help push back against BTN and to support our position. Thank you in advance for your help on this very important effort. (11/24/07) Grandy and Andy on C-SPAN(iel)? Shit… when Cable TV is forced by the FCC to go ala carte that’ll ensure C-SPAN(iel) will get absolutely zero carriage! Then again, there might be some channels that will pay subscribers to sign up for. (Like in the early days of cable, when ESPN, MTV, etc., actually paid the CATV’s monthly on a per-subscriber basis for carriage!) Imagine… a cable channel paying you to get them!!! I can see it happening. Then again, perhaps C-SPAN will report to the Feds those who refuse to subscribe! (11/24/07) 105.5's future can be spelled... K-LOVE. Rsistance is futile... (11/24/07) Good grief!!! This has got to be the funniest thing I have ever seen on DCRTV !!! Lisa Baden and Julie Wright as possible suspects for "Local media Hottie" ???? Dave, you are absolutely hysterical !! Thanks so much for the laughter that your site created in my office over this "challenge" -- lol -- We're all still in hysterics over it . What's next ? Madeline Albright versus Barbara Bush for the political hotties ??? Great site , will share the link with everyone I meet keep us rollin in the future and Happy holidays! (11/24/07) To Michele Hall...thank you for the update on Sean. I've never met Sean but I have heard nice things about him and he has done a lot of good radio through the years. As you know...the Lord answers prayers according to His will. He will honor your faithfulness AND give you just the right words to say. Again...thanks for sharing and lots of love and prayers to the both of you. Sincerely, Bob Mathers (11/24/07) Let's Hope that the 105.5 WTMD relay is not replaced by K-Hate or any other righty, Christian-fascist feed. (11/24/07) To the tune "On Top of Old Smokey": "My favorite bread's Heidi, I hope it's yours, too. It smells so delicious and it tastes so good, too." (11/24/07) /\ November 24 Messages /\ \/ November 23 Messages \/ RE: "Hi, Today is the 50th anniversary of my appearance on the Pick Temple Show--Saturday..--Saturday, November 23, 1957...."//// It was an excellent story, and you told it so well...even though I am not sure a breath was taken....BUT, were you a Pledged Member of Pick Temple's Giant Rangers, who with a blood oath were sworn to only eat Heidi Bread? I thought not... (11/23/07) Re: "is that C-SPAN radio or C-SPAN TV that will be running Grandy & Andy? I cannot imagine it would be the radio side, but then I think of other decisions made in this town..." C-SPAN Radio is basically just local radio station WCSP/90.1, aside from whatever Internet or satellite radio listeners there are. There would be no reason for it to run a non-comm simulcast of a local commercial AM radio show. C-SPAN's TV side has a long tradition of doing in-studio TV simulcasts of local radio talk show hosts, particularly when Congress is out of session. DC's own Jim Bohannon has been featured a number of times. C-SPAN runs the simulcasts from shows all over the country, giving viewers a look into political talk from areas nationwide... (11/23/07) If the DCRTV mailbag was any indication, that little 105.5 translator running WTMD would show up in the next ratings book. :) Seriously, I tend to agree with Max...the guy may be running this thing as a hobby. Or maybe he's got some sort of future agreement with a religious satellator to put their signal into a decently populated part of the DC area. So, enjoy that WTMD feed on 105.5, Dave, for it could one day be replaced by "K-Love" or "Air 1"... (11/23/07) Re FOX5: I have seen that weather guy once before but a while ago when he just popped up then disappeared and now he's back so maybe he is just filling in because I have not seen Gwen Tolbart since I read about her accident. The "Dave" guy someone mentioned doing sports has been on quite often. Wonder if he is the new Lou Holder or just filling in also. Speaking of "Dave's" does this mean with Dave Feldman, Dave Ross and this new "Dave" that you must have that name to work in sports at FOX5 or have your name start with a "D". They do have Diane Roberts also another "D" name. I do like Dave Ross. About Will's remark - Will Thomas seems to always try to be funny and it does not always work. Maybe he thinks it makes him look cute. (11/23/07) Hi, Today is the 50th anniversary of my appearance on the Pick Temple Show--Saturday, November 23, 1957. I was a 5-year-old kindergartener in Montgomery County. My pregnant mother took me, along with my 3-year-old sister, on a streetcar from Friendship Heights to the studio at WTOP Channel 9's Broadcast House on Wisconsin Avenue. I had brand new cowboy (or rather, cowgirl) gear for this special occasion. My father had brought home a new holster and a couple of new toy guns the night before, after I was already in bed. I got to be on Pick's show because my mother had put my name into a drum at the local Giant store. These were transferred to a bigger drum on Pick's show. Every day, he picked names of kids to be on future shows. He was on six days a week--Monday through Saturday. I watched it religiously every day it was on until my mother discovered soap operas on another channel that aired at the same time. This may have been one reason why I have never become a fan of soaps myself! Fortunately, we became a two-TV family not long after that. As for the show itself, there were probably about thirty kids on each day, arranged in three rows of, probably, ten kids each. There were always at least two kids having birthdays on each show. I was not one of them that day, but I remember that there were three birthday kids on that show. Two of the spots, at each end of the middle row, were reserved for birthday kids, while any others sat anywhere else. I was almost certainly one of the most inquisitive kids who ever appeared on the show. I had the chutzpah to actually call out to him during the live part of the show asking him if I could come up closer to see some stuff. There was a microphone he brought down whenever a boy named Mike was chosen to do something, and Pick would say something like, "Mike meet Mike." (I have never accepted the late twentieth century evolution of the spelling of the abbreviation for "microphone" from "mike" to "mic" because I don't think Pick Temple would have approved of it.) Well, I wanted to come out and see Mike even though I wasn't named Mike and wasn't even a boy! I also went up for a close-up view of a rattlesnake that often appeared on the show, although this may have been during a commercial, cartoon, or short movie, and other kids may have done this, too. My grandmother watched me from home and was appalled by my performance. (My father, who owned a retail business, had to work that day and never got to see me on this long-before-VCR-era show. He made up for it almost three years later when he was the accompanying parent for my appearance on Bozo.) I also got to see Pick's pony, Piccolo, and his dog, Lady. I got selected to play a game against a nine-year-old girl. It's perhaps no surprise that I lost, since she was so much bigger and older than I was. Five-year-old kids didn't get chosen for the games very often. Maybe by putting me in a competition that I was certain to lose, Pick was getting back at me for my outspokenness! Giant was Pick's major sponsor. As previously mentioned, Giant provided the means for kids to enter their names to get picked for the show. Pick also sang a catchy tune promoting Giant's brand of baked goods, Heidi, to the tune of "On Top of Old Smokey". An instrumental of this song was also Pick's theme song. When I hear this tune today, I still think of the opening words as being "My favorite bread's Heidi," rather than "On top of old smokey," or even "On top of spaghetti" (an early 1960s hit by Tom Glazer and The Do-Re-Mi Children's Chorus that eventually entered our family's record collection). Eventually, Giant dropped its sponsorship of the show. Pick Temple went to Philadelphia to try to duplicate his success in that larger market, but he didn't last there nearly as long as he did in Washington. I moved to the Philadelphia area myself in the mid-1980s. I'm still there. But in the 20+ years I've been here, I have met only one person who remembers being on the "Philly" version of his show. In Philadelphia, the kids fondly remember Sally Starr, Happy the Clown, Gene London, Pixanne, and other shows that mean nothing to me. And a few folks who are somewhat older than I am remember being on a show that most of the older kids on my block eschewed in favor of one hosted by Milt Grant. Of course, I'm talking about "American Bandstand", which originated on the same ABC-affiliate T.V. station where Pick did his show, WFIL (now WPVI), Channel 6. In Philadelphia, "Pick Temple" is still meaningful, thanks to the presence of Temple University. Fans of the school's Owls basketball team hope that a top-ranked high school hoopster will "pick Temple" as the place to play college ball. After the university has attracted enough of these prospects, the tip sheets will have more reason to "pick Temple" over an opponent. Mayor John Street decided to "pick Temple" as the university where he will teach once his time in office ends shortly. Today, some aspects of Pick's show would no doubt be seen as politically incorrect. Channel 9 and the other two local stations where Pick did his show no doubt have heavy security in place to prevent people from bringing in toy guns, let alone real ones. Many parents would never think of buying toy guns for their kids, even if it was for a T.V. show appearance, and perhaps some wouldn't even let their kids watch a show that glorifies gunshooting so much. Ironically, my father brought my new toy guns home on Friday, November 22. The next time November 22 fell on a Friday was in 1963. It may have been on that very day that many Americans began to question the place of guns, or at least certain types of guns, in our society. My father himself may have had second thoughts about buying toy guns for us after the crime rate in the neighborhood near his store rose in the 1960s. On a lighter note, Washingtonians may not have taken so easily to a show with a cowboy theme once a certain football team became the top sports rival for a local team. Is it just coincidence that Pick's departure occurred not long after the debut of the Dallas Cowboys? Unfortunately, Pick Temple left town before my two younger sisters could be on the show. My mother operated under the philosophy that all of her daughters should have the same experiences. Thus, she did not let me talk about my appearances on the show because she feared my sisters would become two envious. My next-older sister never had her name picked from the drum on the show (although I recall that she went on Bozo the same day I did in 1960). My other sister, still too young for the show when Pick left, fervently desired to appear on Ranger Hal's show, which lasted well into the 1960s, but alas, this was never fulfilled. I hope that both of them have forgiven me for my brief moment of fame 50 years ago today. Regina Litman, Huntingdon Valley, PA (11/23/07) (RE: WTMD on 105.5) Also put it on a vacant frequency so it is not competing with a higher power station not that far away. 92.9 is cleaner frequency in NVA. (11/23/07) As for the newbies at FOX5, I've yet to hear anything about them. However, the other night, the new weather guy made a comment that showed he wasn't familiar with this area. So, Will Thomas made a smart remark of "Are you new or something?" I just don't know why the FOX5 anchors refuse to at least say "Welcome on board" or something. Or maybe they did and I just missed it. I'm starting to think that FOX5 is pretty much a stepping stone or entry level job for people who want to get their foot in the news industry door. (11/23/07) Dave writes: "The problem with the 105.5 WTMD relay is that its location in Great Falls is a fairly low density area. If you're running only 38-watts, you'd want to locate your transmitter in a high density population area to get get the most wattage bang for the buck. Maybe move the transmitter closer to Tysons or to Reston Town Center....." Good idea, Dave. Though really, we don't know the technical, financial or other considerations that lead Mr. Garziglia to put this stick up in Great Falls instead of those more populated areas. Maybe there's just no place to put the antenna, within Mr. G's budget for the station or other technical considerations. BTW, as noted, W288BS does carry a Reston COL, though I seem to remember that translators don't have the same constraints re: placement of the facility and coverage of the COL... (11/23/07) Now that it's finally the day after Thanksgiving, I can go ahead and say it: Happy Holidays to Everybody! DCRTV Dave, your Hooptie be the Shizzle!! Genghis Cohen, still hoping for a C Crane Radio (hint,hint) in beautifully blustery Prince William County (11/23/07) (RE: DC radio veteran Sean Hall:) Hello Everyone! This is Michele typing on Sean's computer. Only a brief moment and then I have to get back to the hospital! Sean sat up in the chair for about 45 minutes yesterday which was a big step for him! This morning he ate a couple of bites of "rubber scrambled eggs" and some orange juice. His BP has somewhat stablized....still high but manageable. Still on IV and Oxygen....having some congestion in the chest and minor breathing issues at times; nothing too serious though. He is hopefully getting up a little more today and goal is to get off the IV tomorrow or the next (they decreased this morning). Still in alot of pain; it's being managed better now though. Please continue to pray for his recovery and specifically that he can get off the O2, IV and get that foley out(SP?....WHICH HE HATES)!!! Possibly may come home late Sunday if progress continues! Also, pray that the Lord will give me comforting words and support for him! He says hello and love you to everyone! Thanks, Michele (11/23/07) Dave sez: "If you're running only 38-watts, you'd want to locate your transmitter in a high density population area to get get the most wattage bang for the buck. Maybe move the transmitter closer to Tysons or to Reston Town Center." True enough, Dave. But there are other considerations here. For one, this is likely a "hobby" station for this fellow, given his past endeavors in radio, and his present employment. Likely a way to listen to some tunes while gardening, or whatever. I'm guessing the transmitter is where it is because the antenna is on his house, or some tall structure on his property. Also, if he were to put it where you suggest, he'd be in for a world of unneeded hassle with the "authorities" in terms of locating the antenna on the side of someone's building, or in a populated area (i.e., just like a cellphone antenna, the person with the high location to make it worth the trip would likely want $$$ for the priviledge of hosting such a thing). My old college station, WMUC, gets out by virtue of having its antenna for 88.1 on top of the South Campus Dining hall, one of the tallest points in College Park (at least til they jacked up the press boxes at Byrd Stadium). So, moving this antenna "to get the most bang for the buck" is likely not high on his list of priorities. For those who can listen, just enjoy this guy's generosity while you can, and while he's willing to pump out a cool sounding radio station. Happy holidays, everyone! - Max in Mild West Arlington (11/23/07) Re C-SPAN and WMAL: is that C-SPAN radio or C-SPAN TV that will be running Grandy & Andy? I cannot imagine it would be the radio side, but then I think of other decisions made in this town... (11/23/07) Dave's response: C-SPAN television..... 105.5 is .038kw thats 38watts not .38kw which is 380watts. (11/23/07) Dave's response: Well, it's amazing what WMUC does with 10-watts. The problem with the 105.5 WTMD relay is that its location in Great Falls is a fairly low density area. If you're running only 38-watts, you'd want to locate your transmitter in a high density population area to get get the most wattage bang for the buck. Maybe move the transmitter closer to Tysons or to Reston Town Center..... Correct link for old Washington Post TV set ads is www.earlytelevision.org, then click "What's New." Sorry for the confusion. Al McGilvray (11/23/07) Poor choice of words regarding WMAL. By "full-time", I meant to say that they filed for a license to cover and that the tweaking & testing phase is over, so the 10kw signal is set for good, but yes, only daytime. (11/23/07) WTMD via 105.5 FM – I was able to listen in car on the Dulles Toll Road from Fairfax County Parkway through Tysons Corner. Though it was a bit staticky - it was listenable. The classic rock trying to break thru must be from the Berryville VA station – WWRE. I would think reception will vary with weather conditions. W288BS - 0.38 kW ERP – 105.5 FM FCC Service area chart: www.fcc.gov... WAMU 88.5 HD-3 still has WTMD overnight I believe. Speaking about overnight radio I’ve listening to the Phil Hendrie – who’s locally on the WWWT 1500/107.7fm – and I still haven’t figured if he’s actually taken a call since he’s came back to radio or if it’s all just him – really what radio can be when taken out of the can. (11/23/07) If you go to www.earlytelevisionfoundation.org and clik on "What's New," there are six television set ads from the Washington Post dating back to 1947. (11/23/07) Scott Edward Philps is out as morning man at Cool 101.3 in milford. New morning show starts next week. (11/23/07) /\ November 23 Messages /\ \/ November 22 Messages \/ I've done some digging to find out more about the new DCRTV Mailbag sensation, FM translator W288BS/Reston VA. Here's what I've uncovered. 1) The translator's owner is John Garziglia, a former FCC attorney now practicing broadcast law privately at the law firm Womble Carlyle (www.wcsr.com)... His bio lists several former on-air/programming gigs of his own, including the former WEAM and WPRW (now WJFK-FM?) in the DC market. It doesn't list whatever air name he may have been better known under in his on-air days. 2) The most recent application, which resulted in the construction permit W288BS is now using, lists WICL in Williamsport MD as its primary station. (fjallfoss.fcc.gov)... That's Prettyman Broadcasting's oldies "Coo1 95.9" in the Hagerstown market. (Gotta love their website, which lists a toll free number with this note: "Even though no one will answere because they are no longer live.") I don't know the exact process which a translator can use to change its primary station, but I think it's probably pretty trivial to change. Mr. Garziglia gives a Reston address in the application, so perhaps he's using this to give himself better radio programming choices :) Of course, that last part is just a guess. He is listed as an individual owner, not through his firm...so if you like getting WTMD via this translator, he's the guy to thank... (11/22/07) Dave's response: Thanks John! A Happy Macy's Day to one and all! After watching the Macy's Day Parade, I'm heading over to Grandma's for Macy's dinner. Then we'll all give macy for our blessings and start carving the Macy's turkey. The turkey was cooked in about 3 hours, just long enough to listen to our favorite Arlo Guthrie song; that's right the day's not complete without a heaping helping of "Alice's Restaurant"! Enjoy! www.youtube.com (11/22/07) The FCC URL for 105.5 Great Falls. www.fcc.gov... This is a poor frequency to pick because there is a station on 105.5 in Berryville VA. How about 92.9? Bob Fairfax (11/22/07) I just ran through all the ad supplements in the Balto Sun, and NObody is offering a Hybrid Digital radio to entice shoppers this weekend. I'd say that says a lot about the death of the format. (11/22/07) Happy Thanksgiving everyone! Although the temperature has dropped about 10 degrees this morning, I am rejoicing and thankful that the strong winds have FINALLY blown the leaves off the trees. (PS - If anyone would like to help me pick them up, I'll be doing that over the next couple of days... :-)) Enjoy this little poem - sent to me by someone who heard it elsewhere...... Black November - A Turkey's Lament..... When I was a young turkey, new to the coop, My big brother Tom took me out on the stoop, Then he sat me down, and he spoke real slow, And he told me there was something I had to know; His look and his tone I will always remember, When he told me of the horrors of.....Black November; "Come about August, now listen to me, Each day you'll get six meals instead of just three, And soon you'll be thick, where once you were thin, And you'll grow a big rubbery thing under your chin." "And then one morning, when you're warm in your bed, In'll burst the farmer's wife, and hack off your head. Then she'll pluck out your feathers so you're bald 'n pink, And scoop out your insides and leave ya lyin' in the sink." "And then comes the worst part," he said not bluffing, "She'll spread your cheeks and pack your rear end with stuffing." Well, the rest of his words were too grim to repeat, I sat on the stoop like a winged piece of meat. I decided on the spot that to avoid being cooked. I'd have to lay low and remain overlooked. I began a new diet of nuts and granola, High-roughage salads, juice and diet cola. And as they ate pastries, chocolates and crepes, I stayed in my room doing exercise tapes. I maintained my weight of two pounds and a half, And tried not to notice when the bigger birds laughed. But 'twas I who was laughing, under my breath, As they chomped and they chewed, ever closer to death. And sure enough when Black November rolled around, I was the last turkey left in the whole compound. So now I'm a pet in the farmer's wife's lap; I haven't a worry, so I eat and I nap. She held me today, while sewing and humming, And smiled at me and said, "Christmas is coming...." Eric O'Brien PBRTV (11/22/07) Hey Dave, Dead air has been broadcast on WLTF since about 8:05am this morning (11/22). The DJ was talking, then nothing, they didn't go completely off the air though. When that happens, Charlottesville's WWWV comes in quite clear. As of this writing, the station remains in dead air mode. Take Care and Happy Thanksgiving, Tybois Uphold (11/22/07) As God is my witness, I thought turkeys could fly! Happy Thanksgiving. "The Big Guy" (11/22/07) A Heartfelt wish to my fellow "Mailbaggers" for a festive and joyous Thanksgiving! Rusty Gibson (11/22/07) Dave, Happy Thanksgiving! WTMD on 105.5 is loud and clear in West Rockville near Rt. 28 and I-270. The. scan feature locks in on it with no problem. (11/22/07) Dave's response: Here in Reston, I'm getting WTMD on 105.5 stronger today than yesterday. Let's hope this is a permanent new feature on the DC radio dial. Very cool..... "Not sure if anyone noticed, but starting this week, WMAL 630 is at their new & improved full power of 10,000 watts full-time!" Where did you get that? Accordng to www.fcc.gov and www.radio-locator.com, the most that WMAL has even filed for is a new 10kW daytime-only pattern and the 5kW nighttime pattern that's been used for decades. Besides, the 10kW upgrade came before their late-June IBOC implementation. Sincerely, Mike in Kensington... P.S. Indeed, happy Thanksgiving to everybody, even the Grinches atop the various local radio stations. Here's to you all having your hearts grow three sizes one month "early" (and don't forget to avoid cost-cut layoffing anybody until AFTER the New Year) (11/22/07) Dave's response: Yes, I was under the impression that WMAL's new 10 kW power went into effect in early summer, about the same time they started their HD Radio broadcasts. And it's just the daytime pattern. Nights are still 5 kW, directional..... Look, there are things to criticize about WTOP and complaints range from accurate or funny to sad and idiotic. But it really is a great station. TOP comes through during emergencies - weather, big traffic tieups, political scandals, and interesting health and lifestyle news. And Bonneville may make huge profits, but they've got a huge payroll too. And they still make an effort to hire the greats that tv either stupidly laid off or underused. Hillary Howard! Come on! Bob Kur, who has such a solid news background that he can stand toe to toe with anyone - Brian Williams, Diane Sawyer and Sam Donaldson included. And look at their latest acquisition: James White, the WAMU cornerstone. When that station decided to willfully misunderstand their audience and imitate WMAL, it was a sad day for public radio. AMU dumped the first hour of All Things Considered to replace it with BBC stories about steroid scandals in the world of Scottish soccer. And when WMAL let Michelle Bash slip through their fingers, WTOP had the brains to snap her up, too. Neil Augustine did not start with a strong news background, but Farley gave him time. Now he's one of the most dependable and accurate reporters you will hear. Serious and smart, too. Complain about TOP all you like, but it's like Dr. Laura said before she fell on her face: these complaints are like dogs howling at the moon. On weekends, music and talk stations syndicated lousy shows and coast. MAL butcers weekends with unlistneable infomercials and expects listeners to return for their Monday morning morons. But WTOP keeps working on weekends. Frank Herzog, for crying out loud. Even Haney. Mark Louis. Rosemary however you say her name. Even when WTOP is on top, they keep trying to be better. How many other stations in this town try to do anything other than just slide by? Linda Headset (11/22/07) For the fourteenth consecutive Thanksgiving I will spend the morning in the living room counting the minutes until the traditional time when I descend into the basement with the big turkey sandwich that I bought this afternoon at Bernie's Deli. Under my arm I will have my thirty pack of Milwaukee's Best and will spend the rest of the afternoon watching the I Love Lucy marathon on TV Land. In case you wondered I have drilled a hole in the living room so the cable wire can be threaded down to the 13 incher in the basement. (11/22/07) Dave's response: Mike O'Meara and his regular holiday message to DCRTV..... From yesterday's FCC filings... I hope someone from the Clear Channel Baltimore/south central PA engineering depts. see this... Some strange things going on down in VA. The 5000 watt class B AM 590 WLVA wants to downgrade to AM 580 at Class D / 250 watts so that Richmond's Class D AM 580 can upgrade from 200 watts to 600 watts, still Class D. Make any sense to you? Anyway, that removes an adjacent 5000 watt Class B daytime and a 1000 watt nighttime signal to Baltimore's WCAO 600 & WHP 580 Harrisburg PA, both 5000 watt Class Bs & both owned by Clear Channel coincidently. Imagine an AM 600 who's signal blanketed DC to Baltimore. Food for thought, er, speculation. :-) HAPPY THANKSGIVING EVERYBODY! :-) (11/22/07) WTMD on an LPFM out of Great Falls? That's Great! Who needs The F*cking Globe? Fire ... Shelby, and send her ... packing ... and smack all her crony bitches up Get rid of that no talent, phony, media whore, Cerphe, give Weasel the MD stripes. Get rid of that other (personality), Kelly Knight... Get rid of those pieces of (poop), liner card readers on Sundays... Hire Bob Waugh, and put him on in the afternoons, hire Gina Crash for permanent swing shift. But Kathryn Lauren middays, and Pat Ferrise in evenings, and bring in Norm Winer from Chicago as a PD who isn't going to compromise the music. Now you'll have a AAA. Otherwise deep six that fucking disaster that you have on 94.7 the globe, and put on that stupid lousy, god damn fresh AC format and go to hell while you're at it. And by the way, go f*ck yourselves... (11/22/07) Dave's response: I did have to heavily edit the above post for taste issues. But I do agree with the overall sentiment. There's an opening for an intelligent, well-programmed, adult-oriented alternative/progressive rock station in the DC market and CBS is blowing the opportunity big time by giving us a slightly harder version of Mix 107.3. And guess what, The Globe's deservedly stuck in 16th/17th place. Clueless..... Dear Jazz lover: Think of the internet as your new pre-loaded jazz music player... just click on our site and enjoy the music. You can even connect your computer to your home stereo for optimum sound. Its easy... all you need is one cord with an earphone connector at one end for the computer and an RCA type connector at the other end for your amplifier/receiver. If you need more information on this please contact me through the website. Quickly reach the following pages on our site - Just click on the link! This week's featured artists on JAZZRADIODC.COM... jazzradiodc.com... (11/22/07) /\ November 22 Messages /\ \/ November 21 Messages \/ Very interesting chapter in John Gorman's new book, the Buzzard, about how they got new releases & world exclusive premiere tracks See www.freetimes.com and read an excerpt from chapter 12..."The Switch." Brilliant!!! (11/21/07) Re: Natalee Holloway - I don't think I can take another 24/7 news coverage of the most recent re-arrest of Van Der Sloot and the Kalpoe brothers. I guess now we know where Greta will be spending the holidays. Somewhere Drew Peterson is smiling. Have a nice Thnaksgiving, Dave. (11/21/07) Dave's response: Dance, Greta, dance! Keep us entertained with your ghoulish cavorting..... Don't know if this dose of holiday mirth made the rounds over at our shop, but if not, I thought you might enjoy some radio holiday cheer. Since it is the eve of the Thanksgiving Holiday, let us who did work at CC give thanks that we no longer work for Clear Channel. Ho, Ho, Ho. As Tiny Tim said, "God Bless Curtis Media".....well, he said something like that, anyway. Kris Eric Kringle (See attached file: christmas_at_clearchannel.mp3) (11/21/07) Dave's response: Very funny! It's a large file and a bandwidth hog. If there's a link out there on another site, let me know..... I wanted to wish Dave and all my radio/DCRTV friends a Happy Thanksgiving! I have so much to be thankful for with my career, my family and my friends. I had a blast today on my Thanksgiving edition of the 12 O'Clock Whatever playing once again this year as is tradition, the 2:00 Turkey Drop clip from WKRP in Cincinnati. I always get a huge laugh out of that one. In honor of Brian and O'Brien, I played Reunion's Life is a Rock (and the Radio Rolled Me). Anyway without B&O'B and Bob Worthington, Steve Rouse, Ken Merson, etc, I would never have understood what fun, good, personality driven radio is all about. Happy Thanksgiving to all!!! -Michael Popovec (11/21/07) (RE WTMD's 105.5 relay:) My bet would be on the old Media General tower at the Great Falls Fire House on 193, near its intersection w/Walker Rd... (11/21/07) You’re address (the DCRTV World HQ) is about 3.5 miles to the SSE of the transmitter for 105.5… Bob (11/21/07) "nothing like elliot getting punked back..." How much does Elliot get paid? From what he says on the radio it can't be far into the 6 figures. I wonder how much management makes? (11/21/07) i was listening to WRNR this morning and heard Gina Crash filling in for Bob Waugh. Seems like every holiday she's filling in at WRNR. We're now just a few dj's shy of an HFS reunion! (11/21/07) Dave's response: Come on, Michael Hughes, Gina Crash to 94.7 mornings. Weasel to evenings. Do it before the CBS Fresh Express arrives in early 2008..... I really like having O & Dukes on in mid-days. Does anyone know if they will be live on Friday too? Someone else commented that they are low-rent if they are willing to do a mid-day shift plus the evening shift for the same money (which we don't know is the case) but they are a new-ish show looking for listeners. I have to applaude their dedication to getting to be bigger. In June there will be an evening shift opening anyway! (Can't get here quick enough for me) (11/21/07) Any Fox5'ers have answers here? Are these guys new or subs? Someone posted: Was watching FOX5 news tonight and saw some guy named Wyatt doing the weather and another guy named Dave (not Dave Ross) doing the sports. When did these guys show up?.. (11/21/07) Former WMMS PD JOHN GORMAN has released a book titled "THE BUZZARD: Inside The Glory Days Of WMMS And CLEVELAND Rock Radio." Check out a sample chapter here: www.grayco.com (11/21/07) Georgetown Partners Takes Sirius/XM to Task in FCC Filing Read the full article at: www.broadcastingcable.com (11/21/07) Dave's response: Merge or don't merge. I'm tired about reading about it..... Hello: This may be your 105.5: www.recnet.com.... Not knowing exactly where DCRTV is located, I don't know, but just a shot in the dark... - Trip (11/21/07) Dave's response: I'm located just below the word "Reston" near the two lakes. Just inside the red contour..... Dave… RE: 105.5… Could it be this? W288BS - 288 D - FX 105.5 MHz - CP MOD RESTON VA US - BMPFT-20071024ABD - 140589 - 0.038 kW - 0. m - JOHN GARZIGLIA (11/21/07) Dave's response: Hmmm. Interesting. Curious as to where exactly the transmitter is. I'm at South Lakes and Sunrise Valley (near South Lakes Village Center) and the WTMD signal ain't strong, but definitely listenable..... Big Head DC is alive and kickin', too, Dave! bigheaddc.com... Happy Thanksgiving! Rob (11/21/07) Not sure if anyone noticed, but starting this week, WMAL 630 is at their new & improved full power of 10,000 watts full-time! Happy Thanksgiving. Oh, almost forgot, who are they carving up today? :-) (11/21/07) CN8’s DC bureau chief Robert Traynham caught up with Senator McCain at CN8’s studios yesterday for an interview about his plans for the presidential race, during which McCain categorically ruled out any run for the Vice-Presidency. Excerpts will appear on CN8’s “Art Fennell Reports” at 10:00 pm. (11/21/07) I don't know if anyone else has noticed the Maryland Lottery out of synch television commercials. What's up with that? Mouth moves, voiceover follows?) They are horrible, in fact the entire Maryland Lottery Campaign sucks. Using the jokers from "98 Rock" as spokespeople..damn, they're horrible. Faces (and bodies) made just for radio!!! (Ba-Da-Bing) Voices that grate and personality?????? Come on! This is a new centure of DIGITAL video..God TV sucks! BOBB (11/21/07) If you think the uproar in Washington, D.C. over missing a potential Patriots' undefeated finale could be bad, just imagine the uproar in Providence, Rhode Island or Portland, Maine. The National Football League is hardly a sympathetic underdog but there is also something wrong with cable companies arbitrarily blocking basic access for new cable channels that don't have any preexisting leverage. NFL Network shouldn't have to sell off pieces of itself to the various cable conglomerates in order to reach carriage agreements with said same conglomerates. Everett W. (11/21/07) Just read the post by Tom Tambascio re: Sean Hall. Sean, mend quickly. My thoughts and prayers are with you during this ordeal. Many, many memories attached to you and me and some very funny moments. Get well, meant sincerely. PLB (11/21/07) Help me win a bet. How much does Jack Diamond and say his side kick Jimmy the lisper make ? Thanks everyone. PL (11/21/07) (regarding a previously posted article) I'm not sure why Avco's John Murphy was slamming the WWDC facilities. I recall several visits there in the early 70s and the place seemed alright to me. The main AM studio wasn't huge, but there was space for the host and two or three guests. At the time, WWDC had a pretty fair news department, six or eight people (as I recall) as well as an affiliation with the ABC Radio News 'Entertainment Network', for world and national news. Here's a link to hear the sounder user.pa.net. In the early 70s, WWDC was chock full of great air personalities: Johnny Holliday, Fred Knight, Dick Hemby, The Joy Boys, Camille Bohannon, Ed Hartley and Fred Fiske. Fred Fiske had a separate studio for his nightly talk show, "Empathy". And don't forget, Captain Dan with airborne traffic in 'Copter 12-6-0'. The 10/15/1974 article mentions that WWDC was considered among the Top Four stations in town. (I'm guessing that the other three were WMAL, WTOP and WPGC.) I think the WWDC FM side simulcasted the AM side part of the day and was automated the rest of the time. I used to be able to pick-up WWDC AM loud & clear in my '71 Chevy Vega (which I bought from Hartley's wife), all over Northern VA, suburban MD and in DC itself, night and day. My reception at home, in Alexandria, was fine too. After leaving the DC area in early '82, I made regular visits back in the mid/late 80s and all during the 90s and even with a good Sony portable radio, the signal/reception seemed to degrade more and more. I'm sure that some of the problem had to do with electrical interference, but I'd bet that the main cause was due to a lack of maintenence of the facility and/or regular equipment upgrades. (11/21/07) Dave, what do you think of Merchant Tire's current "Happy Turkeys" radio spot? There is something bizarre about gobblers cackling with delight at their impending doom like some barnyard version of Jonestown. But at the end at the spot, the narrator is swarmed by the turkeys, suggesting that the birds' true intention is to turn him into a Thanksgiving dinner of their own. Do you suppose the spot originated as an homage to the legendary Cluckin' Chicken from Saturday Night Live (youtube.com) and the management at Merchant Tire changed the script, not getting the joke? Also, in your Battle of the Media Hotties Traffic Edition, why didn't you have Lisa Baden face off against Beverly Farmer? (11/21/07) RE:"What happened to Jen from Michael J and Jen on WPOC?" - I mentioned in the mailbag a few weeks ago that Jen Phoenix was leaving WPOC. She's doing her own Midday show on WXCY now. She sounds great. Her leaving probably had something to do with Michael J moving his live show to WMZQ and voicetracking the show Jen was on at WPOC. Bob Delmont now handles hosting, and the traffic duties Jen had. (11/21/07) Tom Brokaw’s comments from the other day are a little like a dad telling his grown son about the Internet. Hey mister, will the Post really be digital some day? Part of the “information superhighway?” Utterly fascinating, Tom. That and $5.99 will get you a Grand Slam breakfast at Lenny’s—I mean Denny’s. (11/21/07) A bigger deal regarding the NFL Network and Comcast comes next Thursday night (11/29). The Cowboys face the Packers in a key NFC matchup and it can only be seen on the NFL Network. Both teams play on Turkey Day and could be 10-1 going into that Thursday night game. (11/21/07) Dave's response: There's just something wrong with a sports league or team owning the network or station that the games are broadcast on. It just smacks of anti-trust and anti-competition concerns. That goes for the NFL Network, MASN, and Red Zebra, too. I guess it's too late to put the demon back in the bottle over at the FCC. Viewers will be the ultimate losers with games they can't see unless they "pay up"..... WOL's studios were in the Heurich Building at 1627 K Street for many years. Picture of building on page 67 "Washington Deco" which shows the WOL call letters. They were on the top floor IIRC. But only eight-foot ceilings which weren't ideal for the audience studio. Around 1950 they had an afternoon live program with Art Brown at the Hammond and announced by Gary Moore, the real Gary Moore who went on to greater things. (11/21/07) We got the following forwarded to us about former WTOPer Sean Hall, a local radio veteran who now runs a national radio news service from his Loudoun County home. He's at Washington Hospital Center..... Hello Everyone, I am sending this email on behalf of Sean and Michelle. I spoke with Michelle about 45 minutes ago. She reports that yesterday was quite an ordeal, with the surgery lasting several hours. Because of his history, Sean was on a ventilator initially. There was a wire mesh (from the last surgical go around) in his chest that was infected. The doctors suspected a single hernia that turned out to be two hernias. Michelle also told me he is in a lot of pain that is being managed. He is off the ventilator but on oxygen and a heart monitor. Tomorrow, the staff is going to start encouraging him to sit up and move around as much as he can. They have some sort of inflatable apparatus on his legs to prevent clotting. All things considered, the old boy is going to pull through and I'm sure in his own style will read this and tell you all how full of baloney I am. Quickly, for those of you who don't know me, I've known him for about 30 years and was in radio with him in D.C. and Virginia. Keep him in your prayers. I will call Michelle tomorrow and try and update you all again. Best Regards, John Tambascio (11/21/07) Doesn't CNN's Jack Cafferty look like he's made one too many deadlines? (11/21/07) Dave's response: Doesn't Fox Newser John Gibson's hair look like he stuck his finger in an electric socket? A Clear Channel cluster in Randolph, VT puts together a nifty New England Patriots promotion, then prints the New York Jets helmet backwards. (11/21/07) nothing like elliot getting punked back... (The following alleged e-mail exchange was forwarded to DCRTV:) I'm letting you all know that tomorrow we'll close at 3pm. Make sure your copy is in to traffic so we can all leave at the same time. Please enjoy the food, drink and family for Thanksgiving. I'll have my cell and Bberry in case you need me. Happy Thanksgiving and see you next week! Dave Pugh (From: Segal, Elliot) if anyone needs help slicing their turkey... just close your eyes... take a deep breath... and imagine it's the DC101 sales commission plan (From: Clear Channel ad rep) no, no, no...better analogy. as u carve that turkey, imagine 5% of the slice going to you, 45% going to CC, and 50% of that gravy soaked butterball going to elliot's contract. If you cannot afford a turkey, I am SURE our fellow coworker will be more than happy to pitch in for you this holiday season! Happy Holidays all!!! (11/21/07) WWDC?WOL had studios and tower on Ager road in Hyattsville maryland rk (11/21/07) Be careful what you ask for... A not-so-brief select history of WWDC Radio (as well as WWDC-TV 20!) as told through newspaper clippings can be read at DCMemories.com... It should answer any questions about studio/office locations through the years leading up to the purchase by the Benders in 1974. During that '74 sale, the president of AVCO is quoted as saying his outfit was unloading properties like WWDC "in markets where (they) do not have superior facilities." Judge for yourself if that was a less than gentle slam at the stations' physical plant. (11/21/07) Anyone need a Deko/Duet Operator? One of my friends from a previous gig has asked me for information on using his skills in both the union and non-union worlds. My initial feeling was to post this query on dcrtv.com and see what happens. Contact me at zoneinpost@yahoo.com or through the Mailbag. Thanks, Zippy (A WHarr fan) (11/21/07) As part of the continuing Bush program to pervert the Federal Government into a business-friendly, money giveaway machine, the FCC gets riled up when the odd naughty word or part gets sent through the luminiferous ether. But, unlike 40-50 years ago, screwing up the technical end of broadcasting is none of the FCC's concern. Enforcement would inconvenience the business of broadcasting. Seems to me when the public lends spectrum space to a broadcaster, said broadcaster is duty-bound to use it properly or give it back. Here's an idea for a new kind of radio format: scholars read and comment on the Great Literary Classics 24/7. No takers? (11/21/07) What happened to Jen from Michael J and Jen on WPOC? Thanks, Shelly (11/21/07) /\ November 21 Messages /\ \/ November 20 Messages \/ Jesus H Christ, Dave! A 1,500 word post from Peter Laufer? When I'm scrolling down for more than 8 seconds, then maybe the post is too long, mmm?. At least can you paginate such long posts?! Would a page break kill you? (11/20/07) Dave's response: Maybe I could break up such long posts with banner ads. Hmmm..... From when they signed on about 1940, WWDC's studios were on the second (top) floor above what I remember as a People's Drug Store on the northwest corner of Connecticut and K. Their 1450 transmitter was at the same location 1450 occupied near North Capitol St until a couple of years ago. Eventually WWDC bought the 1260 operation which had its transmitter across Ager Rd from 980. The 1260 Ager Rd site started as WOL. It had fairly low power. I thought the 1260 transmitter moved to the present site in the very late 1940s. I visited the Brookville Rd transmitter site before the studios had moved out there. That was the stone-front building facing Brookville RD, not the "tempo-looking" building they now occupy. Perhaps the 1955 Variety article merely recorded the move of the studios to the transmitter site. As we know, newspapers aren't very reliable about studios vs. transmitters. (11/20/07) OK, it begs the question: Before the 1955 move, where did WWDC have its studios and transmitter? For that matter, where was the site for WWDC-1450? (11/20/07) The much maligned campus on Brookeville Road once known as "WWDC Park" is crying "Where's the love?" A little less than fifty-three years ago, her new towers were humming a different tune when the 1260 AM facility began broadcasting. http://DCMemories.com/55_0427WWDCMovesBW289.jpg (The Variety clipping came from the collection of Pick Temple, and provided courtesy of his son, Park Temple.) (11/20/07) Air America and Washington, DC's WWRC AM 1260 could probably broadcast a decent signal that reached from Washington to Baltimore easily if it weren't for bad FCC policies allowing phony/borderline pirate radio stations like Newark, Delaware's WNWK AM 1260 to continue to hold an FCC license even though that station is not even currently broadcasting a signal at all and hasn't broadcast its FCC licensed signal for probably 10 years! I think the only thing that would cause the FCC to take away a broadcast license like this would be if the tower fell on top of an FCC commissioner's head. Of course, that wouldn't happen with Delaware's WNWK AM 1260 as they haven't even had a tower for years if not a DECADE! What a joke. And you wonder why AM radio is a total mess. Sure there are plenty of reasons, but 1 is that the FCC is part of the problem, not the solution. :-( (11/20/07) (A posting at Paul Farhi's 10/20 "Station Break" Q&A at washingtonpost.com:) "I wanted to comment on your article about why rock radio stations have low ratings in this town, in particular 94.7 The Globe. I listen to a lot of radio online, stations that are similar to the Globe, but are far better like KFOG in San Francisco, KINK in Portland and WXPN in Philadelphia. The reason I don't listen to the Globe is that they have incredibly long commercial breaks (I've clocked a few at around 10 minutes.) And their DJ's, even though they are legends, don't know when to shut up. I've heard Weasel take 5 minutes to introduce a 3 minute song. And the repetition of old stale music, most similarly formated stations play 3 to 4 new tracks an hour, check the Globe's playlist at yes.com and you'll see they play only 2 new songs an hour. Perhaps if the station was presented with a little more imagination, more current music and less talking, they might have something really special. But for now I have no reason to switch my Ipod or internet to tune them in." (11/20/07) If anyone knows of a KICK THE B*TCH OUTTA TOWN party for Katherine Green, please post it on DCRTV. I know several people that would love to attend… (11/20/07) What? The CSPLF (Christmas Shoes Peoples Liberation Front) accused of being “soleless”? Perish the thought! We are all well-shod, wearing our hiking boots, so that we can kick down the doors of certain program directors and force them to REMOVE “Christmas Shoes” from certain playlists. You know, there are opinions that tell you all you need to know about a person. And if you like “Christmas Shoes” – if that song doesn’t make you feel vaguely nauseous, followed by rising fury – if you actually don’t HATE that song – then you’re just a dumb person. It’s not a taste issue – it’s a LACK of taste issue. And if that makes the CSPLF soleless, let our soles march on! Sincerely, TMU, Director of Information Services for the CSPLF. P.S. I echo the comment below regarding the station that play ONE version of the Christmas classic. There are literally hundreds upon hundreds of versions of these songs. They just don’t get played. (11/20/07) Now You Can Bust a Nut With Ann Coulter bigheaddc.com (11/20/07) Hate to disagree, but I will listen 1,000 times to "Christmas Shoes" -- as awful as it is -- before submitting myself or my family to "Christmas Eve In Washington," which is not only the worst holiday recording ever, but quite possibly the worst sound of any kind ever made by a living organism. Thank God for iPod! Dave in Sterling (11/20/07) If WASH or WLIF want to expand the Xmas playlists they could always add "Santa and His Old Lady"... (11/20/07) RE: [ " So, who gives a rat's ass about 24 (WUTB)'s digital signal? " ]...... First off, WUTB's measly 500 watt DTV signal is in SW Balto County so it's possible you're right next door and that's why you're receiving it so well! But, from a programming perspective, you have a good point. However, even a stretched digital picture is clearer than an analog one, or at least should be. Also I'll tell you who else cares: ADVERTISERS. Since Comcast does not carry the DTV signal of Baltimore's WUTB MY24 on basic cable, it's not available to all of the people who will be buying digital TVs this holiday season and discovering DTV for the first time. There's only 1 more holiday season after this one before the analog signals get turned off. I sure hope WUTB has their full power DTV signal up and running by Christmas 2008! (11/20/07) That Alison Starling/Lindsay Czarniak Washingtonian cover is priceless. But all I can envision is 2 swinging European guys in gaudy clothes entering the scene, ready to take home a couple of "Hot Ah-merr-ah-ken fohk-sess!!!" lol (11/20/07) Dave, I know you make no attempts to be unbiased in your rants, as they are not news, but commentary, but you're being very unfair and falling more than a little into false accusations with your comments about the Texas shooting on WMAL this morning. Chris Core, the very next show on WMAL, soundly condemned the shooting to legions of shortsighted callers who lauded the shooting, pointing out how close it is to vigilante justice and how little the shooter knew about his victims and their criminal past, if any. But what really smacks of bigotry on your part is to accuse WMAL of racism by implying they only talked about it because they were Latinos. This is the same kind of crap I hear from Limbaugh and Hannity all the time. "If this had been a liberal doing this horrible thing, the mainstream media would never have covered it!" I don't think you want to be seen using any of the same tactics as those guys, do you? (11/20/07) re: "We will not rest until (a) Christmas Shoes is forever banned from America’s airwaves; and (b) the “artists” responsible for this atrocity are tried for war crimes." You are one soleless group. (11/20/07) 1260 has had technical problems for a LONG time. Back when they were "Music of your Life" there was something loose in the antenna system so that there would be huge jumps in signal strength on really windy days when listening in Rockville. The succession of owners has never been willing to program for the area at which their pattern is pointed - Eastern/Southern DC and parts of PG County. (11/20/07) Hey Dave, Happy Thanksgiving! I used to be in the media (as a Delmarva Radio disc jockey) and am anything but a liberal... So there isn't all liberal bias in the media, while I am on this line of reasoning I also went to Salisbury and wasn't a liberal while in college either so I guess the stereotypes don't all hold true. I don't think much of either party but still don't like overt taxation, leniency on crime, or socialism so I guess I'll be voting for whomever is running against Hillary. I really would like to see a viable third party candidate to make both the Democrats and Republicans more accountable to the voters. Anyway, I wanted to ask you and the readers if anyone knows of a hardcore metal station that would bleed into 103 WRNR's signal? A friend of mine was asking me this morning and I told him that I'd check around but I couldn't find anything online on a metal station in MD/DE/PA/NJ/VA that would bleed into 103.1 in Calvert County, MD. I was thinking either a LPFM, HD, Pirate or College signal... but am not sure of anything in the area beyond The Underground that I thought was online only. Thanks, Dean in Southern MD (11/20/07) I was devastated to learn that the legendary Hy Lit passed away recently. I would not have known if not for reading it on DCRTV. I have been a loyal fan and listener since the early '60's and rarely missed his night gig on old WIBG 990 AM. I feel a part of me is gone. I feel much older now. But, he and his son, Sam, were genius enough to put together HyLitRadio.com and recreate the oldies sounds that are no longer played. I hope Sam keeps the format and keeps his dad's voice between each cut. DC's George Michael was a contemporary of Hy Lit in Philly during the '60's and '70s and did much better financially than Hyski. But Hy Lit kept to his roots all his career and will be forever a part of the fabric that is Philly radio. He joins Joe Niagra, the Rockin' Bird. We're all going to miss Hy Lit very much...but let the music play! -- RMG (11/20/07) OK, I threw out this open question last year, and no answers. So here goes, again-- Just as I suspected, 97.1 WASH and 101.9 LIF are repeating the pattern of the last few Xmas seasons. The playlists are ABSURDLY limited. Serious; you will hear only one, maybe 2 versions of many classics. "Do You Hear What I Hear" was recorded countless times before Whitney Houston did it. But guaranteed, she's in heavy rotation, sometimes showing up every 2 hours. Same with others. Is there any reasonable answer to this? I mean, if you're gonna go Christmas 24/7 for two months, you could at least have a wide variety with all the holiday songs available. (11/20/07) I plan to read the 11th chapter of Peter Laufler's BOOK this evening. God ramble, ramble, ramble-BOBB (11/20/07) Due to maintenance neglect, 1260's signal has degraded significantly from its days as WGAY. Maybe the current lib talk format still wouldn't work in D.C. on a more legitimate stick but quite frankly, we haven't had the chance to find out. Everett W. (11/20/07) I hate to be argumentative, but there is no similarity between what Patrick Buchanan does on MSNBC (Political Analyst, expected to be opinionated), and what Carol Simpson and George Stephanopoulis have been: reporter and moderator, which jobs require one to not display an opinion or bias. While George S. usually does a pretty good job of not showing his (assumed) liberal bent, Carol Simpson, in my opinion, has not been good at that the last few years, and suddenly becoming a shill for HRC (prediction: the "C" goes away the day after she declares herself dictator for life) provides evidence that she really was a liberally biased reporter the last few years. It's not only whether they have opinions, it's whether in their job they are doing what they are supposed to do fairly, without making assumptions or news decisions based on their politics. Actually, Tim (former Cuomo/Moynihan aide), George (former Clinton aide), Bob (always in jour nalism, with brother close to GWB), and Chris (always in journalism, but son of ultra-liberal Mike) are quite good at being even-handed; many others, not so good. -- Carl in Olney (11/20/07) re: "we've never had a daily meeting to decide how to make one political party look bad". ...oh boy lol, just another example of why brainless liberals (I know I know, that's redundant) don't "get it" and it figures one of those dumbbells would interpret it that way...tooo freakin' funny. It's a "mind set" not "a meeting" you dumba**...lol,sheeesh. (11/20/07) Please stop with these insane remarks about who's biased in the media. Using the same logic--or lack of---how do you answer what Pat Buchanan is doing on MSNBC? Last I saw he worked for Nixon and Reagan before running for president. The point is you can nit pick all you want and have all the single facts but when put together, it doesn't suggest there's a leaning of one way or the other. I work in this business and we've never had a daily meeting to decide how to make one political party look bad---both seem to be doing a good job on their own. Find something else to worry about. You sound like Rush or Sean Hannity or O'reilly who spend more time talking about how unfair "the liberal media is" than they do about how horrible a job their party has done in the past two terms. ---Oops, I just showed how liberal I am didn't I? (11/20/07) Welcome To The Crustacean Nation! www.somdbluecrabs.com (11/20/07) Very sorry to hear about the death of Bob Gneiser. I met him on a few occasions and found him to be a gentleman. As an aside, he lived in Bradford Bishop's house. He purchased the house after the estate was settled and put up with people coming around wanting to take photos, ask questions, etc. (11/20/07) Dave's response: We have added the "Bishop angle" to the Gneiser story on the Front Page. He had one of those great radio voices..... A Clinton staffer goes to ABC to be an anchor (George S.) An ex-ABC anchor goes to help the Clinton campaign (Simpson). Interesting... Just remember - there is NO liberal bias in the media. (11/20/07) I’m pleased to announce, with conjunction with several other DCRTV posters, a new freedom-fighting group – the CSPLF (the “Christmas Shoes Peoples Liberation Front”). We will not rest until (a) Christmas Shoes is forever banned from America’s airwaves; and (b) the “artists” responsible for this atrocity are tried for war crimes. Today, WASH, tomorrow, THE WORLD! Sincerely, TMU. (11/20/07) Re: "So face [it] Baltimoreans, FOX Incorporated doesn't give a rats ass about Baltimore!" So, who gives a rat's ass about 24 (WUTB)'s digital signal? 98% of their programming is standard-def stuff stretched and squashed to fill a wide screen. I couldn't even name one show on "My Network TV" (the worst name ever for a TV network). I don't know if they are actually operating at 530 watts (they have a construction permit for 200,000 watts); I have no problem receiving the signal in SW Balto County. The trouble is, there's no point in receiving it. -- -- And for those missing WFDC (14) and WHUT (32) on digital cable, you're not missing anything if you're getting a good clear analog signal. Both are standard-def only, with no subchannels. 14's digital signal provides a nice sharp picture, but 32's is fuzzy and off-color, so their analog signal could very well be better. (I can't tell up here because my OTA reception of analog 32 sucks, and Comcast's is full of interference.) (11/20/07) I'll be hosting a 50's and 60's oldies show tonight from 8 PM to 11 PM ET on www.topshelfoldies.com. I invite you to tune in and to log into the chat room. Top Shelf Oldies features different deejays every evening, with rare recordings, live interviews, and requests. This program will be simulcast and rebroadcast on www.wgay.fm. -Ken Carpenter (11/20/07) Dear DCRTV. Yes, Laufer has a long and storied history in DC radio and TV. An NBC News Correspondent from 1982 to 1987, he won a wall of awards for his documentaries (AIDS, hunger, cocaine trafficking, Americans in overseas prisons, etc., etc.) as he traveled the world reporting breaking news for the network. Before that, in 1977, he did a brief stint at the old Mutual, back in the C. Edward Little days. Laufer returned to DC in 1993 when he served as News and Program Director at the old Greater Media WWRC, working with DC radio types as diverse as Joe Madison and Pat Buchanan. Today, he co-anchors the weekly Washington Monthly on the Radio program of politics and culture, heard on the new Clear Channel WWRC and over XM on their POTUS '08 channel. He writes for Washington Monthly magazine, comes back to DC several times a year, and maintains a soft spot in his heart for our nation's capital and his broadcasting colleagues laboring there while he lives a life of leisure in Sonoma County, California -- where stress manifests itself in the difficult choice of which Chardonnay to drink with dinner. - PL..... The news release: LEGENDARY BERKELEY RADIO STATION FIRES LEGENDARY TALK SHOW HOST - BACK STORY: Berkeley, California's KPFA/Pacifica radio station, the only radio station in America to have 10,000 of its listeners demonstrate against it, finds itself in another controversy. After receiving what its program director said were hundreds of complaints from a segment of its "progressive" audience, KPFA abruptly, capriciously, and with no warning fired award-winning author, journalist, and broadcaster Peter Laufer from his lively Sunday morning radio talk show. Program Director Sasha Lilley cited "negative audience feedback" and said her reasons for canceling the popular show were "intangible" but that Laufer was "just not right for Sunday." Lilley offered to tell the public that Laufer was leaving "to go on to bigger and better things." Laufer insisted that she better tell the public that he was fired because that was what he was telling the public. Laufer believes, based on letters and email, along with op-eds in the "alternative press", that a group of malcontent KPFA listener-activists orchestrated a smear campaign against him because he is, as these critics wrote, "not a person of color" and because his credentials (he's won virtually every prestigious broadcast journalism award) are "too mainstream." "The KPFA bumper sticker says 'Free Speech Radio' but apparently mob rule is more accurate," Laufer mused from his Sonoma County coast side home, enjoying his first Sunday morning off in the six months since he inaugurated the KPFA show. "Ever since my undergraduate days, Berkeley has symbolized diversity. But today's incarnation of KPFA wants to march in a lockstep of so-called politically correct speech. I did the show as a labor of love -- the salary about paid for my bridge tolls, gas, and a Sunday dinner out. I am profoundly disappointed and concerned to see that as commercial radio continues to homogenize, a longtime bastion of innovation in the non-commercial radio world reacts with predictable narrow mindedness. If you can't count on KPFA for tolerance of a diversity of views, what can you count on? Of course I harbor no desire to return to their airwaves after being treated in such a shabby fashion." Peter Laufer is author of over a dozen well-received books of social and political criticism; his most recent works probe the lives of soldiers opposed to the Iraq War and promote open borders with Mexico. A former NBC news correspondent -- where he produced and anchored the first nationwide radio show on the HIV/AIDS crisis -- Laufer has reported the news worldwide, and he won a Polk award for his documentary on Americans in prison overseas. In his own backyard he shared a Peabody award as a member of the KCBS news department when he co-anchored the station's coverage of the 1989 earthquake that devastated the Bay Area. He created the "National Geographic World Talk" radio show, and is co-anchor with publisher Markos Kounalakis of the radio program "Washington Monthly on the Radio." He guest lectures at universities worldwide on media issues and his print journalism is seen in a diverse array of publications from Penthouse to the London Sunday Times magazine. Details of his work can be seen at www.peterlaufer.com. Laufer sent the following open letter of protest to Nicole Sawaya, newly installed as the Pacifica Foundation Executive Director, the network of progressive radio stations that owns KPFA, and Dave Adelson, the Pacifica National Board Chair.......... Dear Nicole Sawaya and Dave Adelson: I am profoundly disappointed that your Berkeley station KPFA has given in to an orchestrated and hysterical campaign to remove me from my Sunday morning talk show. Of course I was not doing the job for the meager amount of money I received. I mistakenly believed that KPFA had a commitment to a lively and diverse approach to free expression performed in the context of creative and professionally produced radio theater. I took on the show when it was offered to me for the opportunity to practice live radio art, theater and journalism for my hometown audience. My surprise firing was a tacky act and unworthy of the distinguished role Pacifica has played in American media. Sasha Lilley, the KPFA program director, reached me via telephone on my vacation in New York to inform me that my role was terminated. Lilley said, and I quote from notes I took during the phone call and from a follow-up email I received from her, "I really like what you do on the air. You are certainly a team player and I have really admired what you have brought to the airwaves." Nonetheless, with no warning, I was given my verbal pink slip. During the brief phone call, Lilley cited correspondence she had received from listeners who, she said, did not like my act. When I asked her why these letters were not brought to my attention prior to this termination call, she hemmed and hawed an apology and allowed as how that was probably a management mistake. In a subsequent call I pointed out to her what any longtime radio professional knows: were I to have known a cadre of listeners was organizing an attack on my tenure, I could easily have mustered an equal or greater response from my proactive audience of loyal Sunday morning listeners. Instead, I serenely was cranking out excellent programming, left unaware by Lilley and the rest of the KPFA management of my vulnerability. Radio aficionados may be amused to know that only once did Sasha Lilley specifically chastise me for my performance. It came after I found an old Viewmaster abandoned in the studio just before air time one day. I clicked its shutter and was mesmerized by the familiar "ca-chunk" sound of my youth. When the show started I offered the first person to identify "the mystery sound" a prize: the book written by my first guest that day, autographed by the author. "I hate the mystery sound," Lilley told me later, and I cancelled plans for it to be a running moment of frivolity on my otherwise serious show. My firing came two days after I moderated a benefit for KPFA in Berkeley featuring Naomi Wolf and Daniel Ellsberg -- an event that raised thousands of dollars, and where the hundreds in the audience broke into hoots and hollers of applause when I introduced myself from the stage as the anchor of the KPFA Sunday show. As an added bizarre twist, the firing came on the eve of a feature article in the San Francisco Chronicle by Ben Fong-Torres about me and my talk radio career. In it Fong-Torres cites my seminal book "Inside Talk Radio: America's Voice or Just Hot Air?" and reports "Laufer knows his stuff. He's qualified to offer an update on the state of talk radio -- albeit from a decidedly left-of-center viewpoint." He notes I founded talk stations in Berlin and Amsterdam, and that my talk radio career dates back to the first-ever talk station. "Today," he writes, "he hosts 'Sunday' a live program on KPFA." But Chronicle readers who tuned in after reading the paean to my talk radio expertise heard instead Sasha Lilley herself on the air, hosting my program, with the halting explanation, "We've parted ways with Peter Laufer." Firing is in her management toolbox, but apparently missing from her lexicon. What gives in Berkeley? Is this the KPFA that I have known and loved? This bodes sour for the future of radio in America. If you can't trust Pacifica to protect avant-garde yet highly professional radio, what can you believe in? Has the spirit of George Bush's intolerant regime reached the trenches of Berkeley? Sincerely and with regrets to report this news to you, Peter Laufer... Contact: peterlaufer@peterlaufer.com Or 707 875 8880 (11/20/07) (Dave's response: Hmmm, I wonder if CC is thinking about pulling the plug on DC's lefty talker WWRC. Nobody's listening, according to the ratings. But nobody would listen to anything else they'd put on weakish 1260. So, what does it matter.....) It's not the signal. Back when 1260 was WGAY they did a 1-1.8 share with elevator music. But when you automate a station badly..... dead air one minute, double audio the next.... you drive away your audience. (11/20/07) Dave's response: And Clear Channel sister AMers WTNT and WTEM's ratings are proof..... Despite the phony advertisements that WUTB 24 is "Baltimore's MY24", has "Baltimore's MY24 News" (which is really DC's FOX 5 News), and the ad that says they've served Baltimore for over 40 years (which is blatantly false), FOX, Inc. most likely has this Baltimore TV station up for sale and has no interest in investing any money into the station for the long term. In fact, according to FCC records, they just asked for YET ANOTHER DTV EXTENSION so don't expect to see MY24 in Hi-Def anytime soon! Yes, 500 watts is sad and apparently not even receivable at the Comcast receiving points since WUTB MY24 is the only local Baltimore DTV station not on Comcast basic cable in Baltimore County via a digital TV. By comparison, the max power on many DTV UHF facilities is 1000kw. From FCC records, so far, in this area, the only DTV stations broadcasting at full power are WTTG-36, WJLA-39, WUSA-34, and WJZ-38, although Sinclair's WBFF-46 & WNUV-40 certainly also qualify as totally built out as Sinclair's TV Hill tower has an HAAT of 1479 feet! So face Baltimoreans, FOX, Incorporated doesn't give a rats ass about Baltimore! Since many people hate using a cable box after purchasing a huge widescreen TV with an HDTV tuner built-in, lots of people, even cable customers, are soon going to start noticing the pathetic FOX foster-child known as Baltimore's WUTB 24 and not in a good way. :-( (11/20/07) Dave's response: Down here in DC, gnarled old Mr. Murdoch gives us full-power HD MY20. OK, digital MY20. Love seeing those classic "Star Trek" reruns returning to old WDCA. Now, how about bringing back the Count? Hmmm. I've noticed that Comcast in the DC area gives us the digital signals of 4, 5, 7, 9, 20, 26, 50, and 56. But not the digital sigs of 14, 32, and 66 even though those are now up and running - and full-power..... Sports Talk 3 Lib Talk 0 in San Diego... It has been a week since Clear Channel pulled the plug on liberal talk radio in San Diego and lib talk supporters are now finding out that they were being used while the radio station group finalized it's efforts to launch the third sports station in the market. While 19 lib talk stations (six owned by CC) have ceased to exist during the past year, the flip of KLSD/1360 represents the most serious blow yet to the format. Find out why in latest post in Talking Radio. www.talkingradio.blogspot.com (11/20/07) Dave's response: Hmmm, I wonder if CC is thinking about pulling the plug on DC's lefty talker WWRC. Nobody's listening, according to the ratings. But nobody would listen to anything else they'd put on weakish 1260. So, what does it matter..... I'm not sure if you've run this or not. But the female co-anchor on channel 4's weekend evening news has apparently left. I caught the end of the 11pm newcast on Sunday night (11/18) and she was saying goodbye. I think her name is Shannon Bream...maybe. Not sure where she's going though. (11/20/07) Dave's response: We've already reported that she's going to Fox News..... Love the site. Just one request/suggestion for the battle of the local media hotties. Please if you would, do a battle between Eric Bickel of the Junkies against News4 weathercaster Chuck Bell. In case you haden't noticed they mine as well be local media identical twins! Thanks! (11/20/07) I'd love to know how many of the DTV facilities currently on-air are definitive or are temporary pending the alleged 2009 shut-down of NTSC on-air? I ask this as some of the power levels are insanely low. Like WUTB-DT running only 530 watts???! Hell, not only do I run more power on 70cm the FCC has busted CB'ers running more power than that. I think a lot of people are going to be disappointed and angry when they discover on-air digital (as it currently stands) isn't all it's cracked-up to be. That "crystal clear picture" and "digital concert-hall sound" isn't going to be worth a damn if you can't get it! (11/20/07) From Inside Radio: Metro traffic ranks the worst tie ups for the Thanksgiving holiday.... Among this list, Washington crops up a few times: 1) New York-Philadelphia-Washington, DC – Interstate 95. This corridor is easily the slowest 225 miles of highway during the holidays. The section from the Delaware Memorial Bridge to the George Washington Bridge is the worst of it. 2)Washington DC – Interstate 95 from Springfield, VA (just south of DC) through Fredericksburg, VA. This 30-mile stretch south of Washington DC experiences extensive delays on a regular basis, which are only amplified during the holiday season. 15-20 mile back ups are not uncommon during peak holiday travel times. the full report can be found here: images.westwoodone.com (11/20/07) Can't we get a GOOD music radio station that plays...I dunno...."music"...in the morning?????? Bring back GEORGE 104! While I know they ONLY existed to hold the frequency of 104fm, they were the very BEST radio station around, well..the best FREE radio station. I will probably resort to sat radio, but it's a darn shame that I have to listen to one boob after another, talking from the moment I leave my house, to the point I arrive at the office. (11/20/07) Dave's response: I have six DC/Baltimore music stations on a bank of pre-sets on my car radio (DC101, The Globe, 98 Rock, Mix 107.3, WBIG, and Hot 99.5) and I frequently can't find a decent tune upon scanning them all..... /\ November 20 Messages /\ \/ November 19 Messages \/ I sure hope JOE 107.5 returns to the AC format after the Christmas Holiday is over. I've been watching as 12+ numbers have been going up and not only that, the JACK format across the country is doing pretty well. Good job on Great Scotts part in beating Clear Channel to the punch. (11/19/07) looking for stations in hagerstown/ frederick area that will be carrying Imus dec 3rd..???? (11/19/07) Just saw Mr. Whipple died. that was a great ad campaign. (11/19/07) Dave's response: I hear that Charmin has signed Rush Limbaugh to replace him..... An internet radio station in your car, able to tailor its programming to your own musical tastes? A Bang & Olufsen system streams radio via the car's mobile internet link. whathifi.com (11/19/07) Now that there are two Christmas stations on the shore, one is to ponder if Great Scott will return to the JOE FM format. Sure, the 12+ numbers are getting better and the breakouts are showing some traction against Clear Channel---but, we know that GS is all about the money-and JOE-FM isn't making the bucks. Look back at how popular Jane was before it was flipped....so, could this early Xmas stunt be the end of Adult Hits on Delmarva? If not, KUDOS to Great Scott for beating CC and MTS to the punch! Of course, CC will follow what ever anyone else in the market does! (11/19/07) On last night's 11:00 newscast on NBC4, they all said goodbye to Shannon Bream, said many complimentary things, and announced that she was going to Fox News. That's very unusual because news people seem to slip away never to be heard from or about again. I realize her leaving had been announced previously, and it was her idea and she wasn't let go, but it was still a very classy and welcome touch...it should happen more often. (Her bio is now gone from Channel 4's website.) -- Bobbie (11/19/07) NICE that Channel 7 took me and the family into see an intestine while we were eating pork for dinner at 5:45. It helped to switch to Channel 9 where Sara Walsh is looking an awful lot like Valerie Plame tonight. (11/19/07) Saw a new meterologist named Wyatt Everhart on FOX5 the other night. Anyone know if he's just filling in for Gwen Tolbert while she's out recouperating?..Also saw a new sports guy named Dave Benz. Lou Holder's replacement?..Can't depend on FOX5 to introduce anyone when they come on board. Oh also saw some new female reporter who's name I "think" was Trish. (11/19/07) Sometime this afternoon, Q105 at Clear Channel here on the Eastern Shore switched over to all XMAS MUSIC. This past weekend, Great Scott's 107.5 Joe-FM went to a 24 hour XMAS format as well. Hilarious. Typical Clear Channel Salisbury...react to EVERY move the competition makes. Q105 has been doing the all Christmas format for year of course because they are Clear Channel and are made too, but I hope JOE-FM takes a chunk away from that dying group of stations. I'm sure we'll hear Roxy from 96 Rock and KISS doing a shift on their soon. If you work there, you end up on ALL THE STATIONS. (11/19/07) (From DCRTV's Classified Ads:) The English Programs Division of the Voice of America is in search of experienced voice talent for part-time work reading Special English newscasts. Will train. Also need experienced part-time directors for our live English News Service VOA News Now. Contact Bob Doughty at rdoughty@voanews.com. (11/19/07) Dave, in addition to Ledo, Colt-45 Malt Liquor and other possible sponsors for the glass-enclosed nerve center, why not broaden the concept? Examples: Condoms: “From the Trojan glass-enclosed nerve center….”; Pain-killers: “From the Vicodin glass-enclosed nerve center…” Pregnancy: “From the EPT Pregnancy test glass enclosed nerve center…” Bowel problems: “From the ‘Oops, I crapped my pants’ glass-enclosed nerve center…” (11/19/07) what is wrong with a little Karen Carpenter, Alvin and the Chipmunks, Bing Crosby and Gloria Esteban singing Christmas movie 24/7? Come on? Have some holiday spirit and sing along with the same old songs! You are going to want that sixth rendition of "Oh Holy Night" in the middle of the day while you polish your weapons and shout at the kids in the neighborhood. You can also start freaking out about the mention of the s-word during weather reports while you're at it. Stop being a Grinch or Scrooge and such it up cupcake. -skimmell (11/19/07) The show today was kind of gay but I like the idea of airing Big O And Dukes instead of some substitute for Jim Rome. If BO&D are so low and desperate (no offense) that JFK could get them to work a shift in addition to their normal shift without additional pay then I say air them. They can promote their regular show during that shift. I'd rather listen to greenish local hosts than a syndicated sub. Perhaps The Hideout could be used for this as well - such as when Opie and Anthony go on vacation and play reruns. (11/19/07) Happy Thanksgiving from Read Street Sound and Video... Paul, Jay and Becky... We wish you a wonderful Thanksgiving Holiday, and safe travels as you visit with loved ones. In celebration of Thanksgiving our studio and office will be closed Thursday through Sunday this week. We will reopen Monday 11/26/07 at 6:00 a.m. PST, give or take a few pounds! (11/19/07) Re: Got word from a friend that works at WSNJ in South Jersey that Jonathan P. Casey will be doing a tribute to Hy Lit on his show Monday afternoon 2PM-5PM. Listen on the radio in South Jersey on WSNJ/1240 or WMVB/1440 or listen online: wsnjam.com. Of all days (at least on my end) their audio stream isn't working! Tom in Denton. MD (11/19/07) Dr Jan Adams who performed cosmetic surgery on Rapper Kanye West's mother will be appearing on Larry King Live tomorrow night the same day of her funeral at 9pm Eastern. For the rest of the story, Please log on to www.Keminications.com... Reliable media news for Toronto, Canada and the rest of North America. While you are there, watch the Global-TV coverage of the Santa Claus parade (some funny clips)... Read all today's media news. (11/19/07) Oh I am so happy that O & Dukes are on during the day all week. Does anyone know if this could be to test how well it might work if they get rid of Rome on WJFK? I guess I shouldn't bitch since it ain't O'Reilly! (11/19/07) Hey Dave.... You mentioned in an article about Michael Specc's to Sales Manager at KDKA that it can be heard after dark. Well, since WBZ went HD on Sept. 14 the reception is terrible to non-existant. I was a frequent caller to Gary Dickson's 'After Midnight' show. The 50,000 watt signal now , if discussed, is an instant dump for callers..... just like using a cuss word. Real nice management move, huh? Dave in Waldorf (11/19/07) not local but look what this Chicago columnist says would be the best thing for WGN www.suntimes.com (11/19/07) Having been at the Gun and Ammo Show and sufficiently stocked up on both, I say to WASH-FM; go ahead and play that damned "Christmas Shoes" song, I dare ya, I double-dog dare ya! Go ahead and see what bloody well happens. Genghis Cohen, waiting for the all Hanukkah (yet another Hallmark Holiday) channel to get going on XM, in autumnal Prince William County, VA…. (11/19/07) And now we just lost 3 Sirius channels to the Christmas-til-you-puke infection. This is really ridiculous. (11/19/07) Re:"Ain't WPFW pretty good for jazz music." I do manage to hear some jazz on PFW occasionally, but normally, like 2 minutes ago, it's just somebody yakking. Usually angry. Click. (11/19/07) Dear “Legs”, Here is a holiday wish from the mailbag. Please hire an editor. The emails you write appear to be “throwing up” all over the rest of the mailbag. Perhaps you will receive some new “rose colored glasses” to go along with the editor. What a blowhard! (11/19/07) Dave's response: Speaking about "legs," doesn't Jim Farley frequently wear Bermuda shorts around the glass-enclosed nerve center? Hmmm..... As I understand it, Pete Jamerson (not just of WTTG, but WMAL-TV, and WGMS radio) passed away some time ago in Maine. I hope someone can contradict the report I heard quite some time ago... Unsigned Corporate Suit (11/19/07) After the Outlook section ran an opinion piece by Mark Levin's friend in deception, Victoria Toensing, which contained half truths, conjecture, misinformation, dubious claims, falsehoods, and red herrings about Scooter's role in "Plamegate" the weekend before his jury went into a deliberation. "Dozens" of readers contacted Ms. Howell's office claiming the piece could be considered "jury tampering," and corrected the many factual errors Ms. Toensing made, or the article covered up. Ms. Powell, proving she is the most calculating and selective ombudsman in the country, defended her boss, Mr. Hiatt who approved the piece, by stating in print "This wasn't tampering. The judge has instructed jurors to stay away from news reports." In her written defense of the Outlook section, Ms. Howell didn't print or address several other complaints from readers including "why did the Outlook section chose not to identify who Ms. Toensing was with a factual blurb below her name?" (a practice they usually do for non Post employee pieces the Outlook section chooses to publish). Ms. Howell really looked foolish the next day when the AP ran with this headline; "Libby juror exposed to outside information." The juror, as we all know, was dismissed. After the trial, the jury foreman (coincidentally a former Postie), wrote an editorial and stated his wife had told him about the tone of Toensing article, without specifics, but he didn't read it until after the trial. If anyone has credibility issues and biases at the Post, and should be fired, Ms. Powell is at the top of my list. (11/19/07) Got word from a friend that works at WSNJ in South Jersey that Jonathan P. Casey will be doing a tribute to Hy Lit on his show Monday afternoon 2PM-5PM. Listen on the radio in South Jersey on WSNJ/1240 or WMVB/1440 or listen online: www.wsnjam.com (11/19/07) I don't have time to listen to 97.1 WASH-FM all day, but if they play "The Christmas Shoes" or "Christmas Eve in Washington," will someone buzz me? Thanks. Al McGilvray (11/19/07) " Bah, humbug! Where is the ghost of WDCU past" Didn't you know? The ghost of DCU has been reported hanging out with the ghost of WGTB scheming up plans to air abortion clinic PSAs and to pull the plug on Georgetown basketball games in order to play music by some obscure Italian prog rock band from the early 70's! (11/19/07) /\ November 19 Messages /\ \/ November 18 Messages \/ In my last post, I mentioned that I was able to obtain an interview that "The Radio Racket" did with Hy Lit about a year and a half ago. For all who would like to hear this interview, "the Radio Racket" is running that interview; it can be found at www.radioracket.com... Tom In Denton, MD. (11/18/07) Ain't WPFW pretty good for jazz music. Although can't figure why spanish music in prime time in the evenings. I mean there are what 5-6 full time spanish music stations in area now, not exactly endangered. More jazz! Anyone know where the website is that has poll for firing Don Geronimo? How about a poll for worst and best website for area radio shows. The purple one really is bad ain't it rgf'er's. Is the greasemun still getting up early to go down to basement and do his show just out of habit? (11/18/07) Although I didn't grow up in the Philadelphia area, I am familiar with Hy Lit; I have a good friend who cites Hy as one of her heroes in radio..have heard airchecks of Hy's shows..and have an interview that "The Radio Racket" did with him about a year and a half ago. Have to agree with Joyce Conroy's assessment of him..he certainly needs to be in the "Rock-N-Roll" Hall Of Fame..along with Buddy Deane! Quite frankly, I'm surprised that he's not in there by now; I just assumed that he was! He will be missed! Tom in Denton, MD. P.S. To those who are not familiar: Hy was to Philadelphia what folks like Johnny Dark and Buddy Deane were to Baltimore! (11/18/07) RE: (Dave's response: Interesting to see which DC area radio stations still have their studios in DC. Bonneville, ABC/Citadel, and Howard's WHUR as far as the commercial ops go...) Didn't WMET AM 1160 have a studio or two in DC for a minute or two? (They've since moved to beautiful downtown Silver Spring!) --DCebay (11/18/07) So now we have 3 major radio stations doing nothing but Christmas music. And still not one full-time jazz station. Bah, humbug! Where is the ghost of WDCU past? (11/18/07) Friends, You might be interested in a series of reports I'm reporting on a bacteria that's plaguing combat wounded servicemembers -- making treatment of their primary wounds exceptionally difficult. A three-part report will be broadcast Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday (Nov 19-21) during the 7:30-8 p.m. "Federal News Today" program on NewsChannel 8. A stand-alone piece will air Tuesday on ABC7 news at 11 p.m. Best, Chas (11/18/07) Just wait until the Nationals sign the Japanese outfielder K. Fukudome. Shawn in DC (11/17/07) Sad about the passing of Hy Lit. One of the great DJs of all time. Hy Lit and Rock 'n' Roll are here to stay. Rock on Hy. (11/18/07) WASH Can start playing Christmas music Nov. 1st. Sure beats all the other dreck played on any other station at any given time. Dave, I KNEW that was you at the Guns and Ammo Show orgy! Those gun nuts [pardon the pun] SURE can party! LOL! Paul (11/18/07) hey Dave, didn't you used to have a list of stations that could be picked up outside the area? I was just flipping and heard the jacksonville/San diego game on Westwood One via AM 740. Any idea where that could have been in the early afternoon? (11/18/07) Dave's response: I have pretty much incorporated "nearby area" stations into our Station List. My best guess is news talker WRNR-AM in Martinsburg. Especially if you're in the western suburbs of DC/Baltimore..... Dave, I tuned into WASH (97.1) yesterday and they were playing X-Mas tunes. (11/18/07) Dave's response: They are on Sunday afternoon. But they weren't on Sunday morning..... Woah, chill out, MF. What if the use of the canned natural sound is merely illustrative? That is, it's "generic" traffic noise, akin to stock video, used in a story about ...say, congestion statistics? It's perfectly acceptable in television to use file video - even when it's not labeled (street scenes, airport security, obese people eating, etc). Why not use file sound to enhance production value, as long as it's not misappropriated to a particular place and time?? Seems perfectly ethical to me. (11/18/07) Well, it's pretty clear to me that people like Deborah Howell damage The Washington Post's credibility far more than any email that nobody even knew about until a nutjob Post writer and a former proven "crack addict" chose to bring it to our attention. And probably anyone with a brain nationwide now realizes as well that The Washington Post management lives in a utopian world of elitist political correctness CRAZYLAND at this point. Oh, dare I mention that the man was caught on video tape doing the deed? Oh, nevermind, let's not get facts in the way of political & racist agenda here. Ooops, my bad. Just imagine if anyone in the Bush administration got busted for crack, cocaine, or any drug usage. Are you trying to tell me Deborah Howell that The Washington Post would suspend any employee who referred to a Bush administration appointee as a "crack head" or other drug reference?!? I think not. The Washington Post should rename itself as THE WASHINGTON JOKE! No wonder less and less people read The Post. (11/18/07) I' still working on my book and appreciate everyone who has responded to my plea for HELP, It has been rewarding to talk to the kin folk and friends of the WTTG pioneers who are no longer with us but there are a few still around who haven't responded. Alex Sheftell, Vic Guidice, Dianne Cameron just to name a few. Now I'm looking for PETER JAMERSON. I was Professor Augustus Appleknocker on the HAYLOFT CONSERVATORY OF MUSICAL INTERPRETATION , a country music variety show. I was the only person with a script (in my lap) so I was able to save every program. No one knew, not even some of the DuMont staff, knew that every show was written by Walter Compton, our then General Manager. Walter died very young from kidney infection. He had two children, Ann and Billy. His wife was Frances. He was the network nightly-news pioneer for several years and yet is difficult to find in TV research. On the other hand, if you look up Mutual Broadcasting System, there are thousands of references to Walter. I have tried very hard to find Walter/s relatives or other co-workers. If any of you know anyone with DuMont connections please tell them to contact me. Happy Thanksgiving to all Gordon Williamson fsp2a@aol.com, 386-677-2007- 1400 Moravia Ave., Holly Hill, FL 32117 (11/18/07) I swear if I see the ad on Channel 4 for the all-Christmas music format now playing on WASH one more time, somebody is not going to have a "simply wonderful Christmas time". They're playing that damn 10-second ad like twice during each commercial break! At least let me enjoy some Thanksgiving turkey before the Christmas hoopla kicks in....uugggghh! (11/18/07) Hi Dave, I was very fortunate to spend some time with Hy Lit back in late 2005. We took me to a great Italian restaurant in Philadelphia, everyone knew him. They brought out his favorite wine and "bookmakers" salad. I had butterflies in my stomach so bad that I could hardly enjoy my meal. But I can tell you it was such a great experience hearing his stories about Philadelphia radio, what a proud past! Hy really loved the listeners, and knew many of them personally. He made it a point take the time to be close to those who had supported him over the years. His passing was a shock, he had Parkinson's, and was slow getting around, but despite that, had a great spirit. Hi, like many of the great jocks of the 60's from Baltimore/Washington and across the nighttime airwaves certainly influenced me over the years.He will be missed, but I am sure heard on Hylitradio.com... Tom Conroy (11/18/07) El Jefe and J. Dubs , said they where broadcasting from Tampa Florida last night (11/18/07) Dave's response: I heard from someone that I was on the post-show podcast. Gee, how'd I get to Tampa? Anyhow, I was told that I said some nice things about Michael Hughes (really?) and how I thought El Jefe and J-Dubs should get a weekday slot on 106.7 - either middays or late nights. I'm told that we also talked about how CBS Radio had asked El Jefe to stay on at HFS/99.1 in early 2005 when it flipped to Spanish El Zol, but he had to admit that he doesn't speak Spanish! El Jefe doesn't speak Spanish! Funny! I also hear that El Jefe asked me out and I turned him down. Strange, huh..... Dave, what sad news about Hy Lit. I echo Sean Hall's feelings about his passing. He was one of a kind and a true radio legend. My thoughts are with Hy's son, Sam and his family. Tom had dinner with Hy and Sam about two years ago and I will never forget receiving a phone call from Hyski. In my opinion, Hy should be in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame along with Buddy Deane. Hy had me laughing as we discussed the Philadelphia music greats. I mentioned Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff and he said "Oh you mean, Huff and Puff". Bless you Hy. Thanks for the memories. You lived them my friend and will do so again. Blessings. Joyce Conroy (WHFC) (11/18/07) Some WJFK moles in these parts? Heard tail end of El Jefe and J. Dubs Sat. nite(when is dubs back on Don and Mike show to make another stewpid bet and get another tatoo?) I heard them thank someone back at the Gecko studios at wjfk, prey tell, where are they broadcasting from? and they said they had some after show podcast available with an interview of the DCRTV Dave. Serfed by WBIG Saturday eve and came across interesting show of lesser played 60's and 70's music. Heard a seldom played song from Zombies from Odyssey& Oracle album and then later heard a Laura Nyro song I'd never heard before. Kind of stuff I wish the old WARW would have played. Saw a commercial this eve for something called Buzz Ballads, man seemed like the playlist for The Glob to a T. Don't think Cerfe was funny Friday by playing Pearl Jam version of 'Last Kiss" ,was that a dig at you know who with that song originally produced by Major Bill Smith way back when? Does Don Geronimo still mention his daughter at the end of Friday show anymore? He suffers so from the ticker to entertain us, the fans. Tuned Saturday for MHT on webr, is your good buddy no longer able to do show, sounded like this guy was permanent, as permanent as things can be. (11/18/07) Dave's response: Me? I was at an all-night orgy with some fine folks from the guns and ammo show at the Dulles Expo Center..... I am absolutely devastated to hear Hy Lit passed away. Just devastated. Hy was one of the most influential air personalities in any market in any era of radio. Period. He truly "brought the sound to town." Few jocks in any decade had his ratings and popularity. Between Hy and Niagra; they pretty much made WIBG and even after WFIL came to town--were huge influences for years to come. Hy lit was a real one-of-a-kind and I'm quite sad he's gone. sean hall (11/18/07) Dave's response: Yeah, as someone who grew up (ages 6 to 14) listening to Philly's WIBG, he was very influential in developing my love of radio. Hy was a radio legend, no question..... Levan Reid is such a pussy...I was watching him go over the Terps highlights, and a Florida State player with the last name "Fagg" scored on the Terps. Reid was so scared to call the guy by his last name, he SPELLED OUT his last name...How pathetic is that??? (11/18/07) Dave's response: When working at Radio World, I once had to interview a guy whose last name was "Faggot." No lie. I was told to give it a French pronunciation..... It appears that WASH-FM has just gone all-XMAS. I haven't confirmed it yet, but I did see commercials that mentioned that WASH-FM is now playing all-XMAS music. (11/18/07) Dave's response: WASH always gets a ratings jolt with the XMAS stuff. The earlier the better. Why not! It certainly beats the bland crap they usually play..... ""M" posted an easy ethics question about the recycled MOS. " The other half of M's question was what about the use of sound effects ("traffic, or crowd noise, or such") in one story that were recorded in a different time or place for a different story. Any journalism ethics professor or working news director who takes her credentials seriously would condemn this practice for exactly the same reason as reusing "man-on-the-street" (MOS) sound: it's dishonest. It is intended to make the listener believe the sound describes a particular event or series of events, when in fact, the sound originated from a completely different event. Shame on that reporter. Any reporter who uses such sound "in story after story, after story" SHOULD be fired. It is an unequivocal violation of the ethics standards applied to broadcast journalists by both the SPJ and RTNDA. -MF (11/18/07) /\ November 18 Messages /\ \/ November 17 Messages \/ From what I've read, I wish "Legs" were working for us. I pray she's not working for our competition! I say that as there's (unfortunately) seemingly no one as posessed of her common sense, insight, and candor currently working where I do. (There's always hope!) One thing about all these early starts to the Christmas music formats on radio that bugs me is that not only is it earlier than usual... it's much earlier than I can recall! In addition, I started seeing Christmas displays in some stores right after Halloween, completely skipping Thanksgiving! We all know the economy is in bad shape. But, is it really so bad that bad taste isn't anymore? It made me think of the re-scheduling of fishing season in Nevil Shute's classic, "On the Beach". (Both the novel and movie are of a quality we're ! not likely to see again for awhile... if ever!) Anyways, a Happy and Safe Thanksgiving to all in DCRTV-land from The Unsigned Corporate Suit and Family (Christmas Jeer -er Cheer will be shared at a more optimum time!) (11/17/07) "M" posted an easy ethics question about the recycled MOS. It does not meet journalistic standards to re-use MOS that was obtained on questions answered about one story, and then again used as if the opinions are in response to another. If the identical story was being played again, then the context itself is intact and that should pass muster. Example of failing the test: So what do you think about Britney Spears parenting skills? (set of answers produced into MOS) Later, so what do you think of Kevin Federline's parenting skills? (use the Britney tape again) (11/17/07) Radio One **almost** got a sweet deal from the State of MD. On December 16th, 1997, a $500,000 package from Maryland's "Sunny Day Fund," which is used to attract businesses and jobs to the Free State, was approved for Radio One. The money was intended to help the company pay for the $4.5 million office building in Lanham where it had moved from the District. According to a Washington Post article from June 11, 1997, the $500,000 was originally proposed to go to Cathy Hughes and son Alfred Liggins as individuals, rather than to Radio One Inc.. William S. Ratchford II, director of the MD General Assembly's Department of Fiscal Services said this unprecedented arrangement could hamper state efforts to recoup the money if the station owners failed to meet their hiring goals and didn't repay the money on schedule. Ratchford was also concerned that Hughes and Liggins planned to use only one-fifth of the Lanham building for Radio One, and that job creation would be "marginal at best" because many of the 250 Radio One employees already lived in Maryland. In the final agreement, the Hughes-Liggins companies were to receive a $400,000 loan that was to be forgiven if Radio One added 40 new employees to its 110-person work force and kept them through the year 2005 and also fund $4 million in capital expenditures at company headquarters by the end of 1999. The remaining $100,000 was to be a loan to be repaid at 6 percent interest after five years. However, in mid-January 1998, there was an 180-degree turn of events. Declaring she would not accept "one red cent" from the state, Cathy Hughes spurned the money to protest a recommendation by the MD Legislative Ethics Committee to expel state Sen. Larry Young (D-Baltimore) who had a talk show on her Baltimore station, WOLB-AM. (Young was expelled anyway.) Rudolph A. Pyatt, Jr. wrote in the 1/15/98 Washington Post; "Either Radio One has the financial resources to proceed with its plans to expand or it has a loan commitment from a lender in the private sector. Detractors will no doubt insist in either case that the company did not need a state loan after all." (11/17/07) IT'S OFFICIAL: 107.5 JOE-FM ON THE EASTERN SHORE HAS GONE ALL CHRISTMAS AROUND THE CLOCK. LISTENING TODAY...IT SOUNDS REALLY GOOD. I WONDER HOW LONG Q105 DOWN THERE WILL TAKE TO FLIP NOW. (11/17/07) If I'm not mistaken, Radio One either got money or a tax break to move from DC to Maryland. I wonder if the Maryland deal had any strings on it as to how long they had to stay? (11/17/07) It must be karma that I'm dealing with collicky children both in the real world, and on this Mailbag (sigh). To "foot" (you need a manicure, dear...); if it makes you happy to complain, you go right ahead, as long as Mr. Hughes thinks its a good use of his bandwidth to give you and your cranky little playmates a chance to complain about things that absolutely don't matter in the broader context of people dying in a stupid war, Darfur, the effects of climate change, and the outrage of hunger and homelessness. Obvously you think it makes a difference if Jim Farley "makes a bonus on the profit of WTOP" (that's the sort of cheap shot I lump in together with those who consistently drag in the Mormon Church into discussions like this over and over)...again, what the h-e-double-toothpicks (I just love that old George Michael line...I do so miss George) is that supposed to matter, hmmmmmm? From my friends who work there (and some who no longer do), I know most of the workers in Bonneville's D.C. cluster earn a bonus if the stations hit or exceed their profit target for a given year. That's a very progressive decision their management has made for all their stations across the country to give their workers a stake in the company's success. I'll just bet that only the top corporate guys, and cluster GMs at outfits like Clear Channel get that. Working stiffs are told to be happy they have a job until the top line for the heavy-hitters and stockholders requires slashing the workforce. And Mr. Farley wouldn't be much of a manager if he were not able to balance the need of the station and his company to make money, and at the same time maintain a high standard of journalistic quality & ethics for the product they put out. And I'm saying that despite what anyone else here say, I happen to think they do that, and do it daily, and create a station that is not only must-hear informative, but also compelling and even sometimes entertaining. That's all I'm saying. Note the prominent mention they get in that Edison Research page on D.C. being in the top 10 best markets. Believe me when I tell you that there are stations and managers in major markets like L.A., Chicago, and other cities that would kill to enjoy a tenth of the success that WTOP has earned. If you don't agree, fine for you. However flawed the diary-based ratings might be, the fact is they are successful, and successful on their own terms, which includes any policies they have about their advertising. And that's why I say if any of this is so end-of-the-earth important, why, head over to FCC.gov, and get the info on challenging a station's licence, because that's the only realistic recourse anyone really has. And now, if you don't mind, I have to pull on my best soccer-mom outfit, and take my 7 year old to her soccer match. /stuffing 'foot' unwillingly into a plastic baggie, and dropkicking thru the goalposts of life to join 'Dave', in black tights and white/pink New Balance crosstrainers/ - Just Call Me 'Legs' (11/17/07) Yes, WJFK is sounding much better. More local talk and more local shows, shows promoting other shows etc. Notice though how Donnie G has made his solitary island in Rockville and no one talks about his show and he doesn't talk about anything to do with the station (except Michael Hughes). D&M have no fun giveaways, concert tix, tv's, or anything except the occasional money for attempting to make them laugh. Must be lonely in the land he has created where no one tells Don the truth. (11/17/07) Dave,