Current Mailbag - Mailbag Archive Index - DCRTV Front Page - Support DCRTV DCRTV Mailbag - March 22 to March 29, 2010 Latest messages listed first..... \/ March 29 Messages \/ It was just a matter of time before all the good talent knows what assholes Joe and Robert Allbritton are and how he treats his employees (he is cheap) for them to leave to bigger and better things. Everyone who leaves that shithole, ALWAYS goes on to bigger and better places. All the best to Michael and Pia. (3/29/10) The absolute best "test record" for an AM station has been "Don't Fear the Reaper," by Blue Oyster Cult. The frequency response is tested throughout the range, with strong bass notes, densely-mixed midrange, and highs that come in the form of the cymbal/high hat in the drum kit. The very quiet solo guitar bridge reveals whether your compression is pumping and wheezing or whether it just makes things LOUD, and the duration of the song is enough that you can get out in the car, drive around, and tune off to the sides to check how clean is the signal. Great stuff, thanks for the memories. Signed, "The kilowatt daytimer at about 1AM" (3/29/10) Maybe Fox is half-baked journalism. But watch out if the oven is turned up to broil. Fox already has double the ratings of it's nearest cable competitor ---- in all time slots -- 24/7. The rest haven't even gone into the oven yet. Call them half-baked, if you like. But all you're doing is demonstrating your malcontent for a successful network that (unfortunately) presents too many programs hosted by people who do not embrace socialist/communist ideologies. But then, that's what you have MSNBC and Al Jazeera for. JA (3/29/10) Dave's response: What's the median age of the typical Fox News viewer? 63? Probably the oldest-skewing cable net out there apart from Hallmark or RLTV..... Funky accounting at The Freedom Alliance! trueslant.com "...[The Freedom Alliance] had total revenue of $12,459,317 and total expenses of $7,461.350. That would put their overhead at 60% of revenue –far above the 25% deemed acceptable for credible charities and explaining why the charitable watchdog agency rated the Freedom Alliance so poorly." Debbie Schlussel promises to unveil more dope on The Freedom Alliance and The Freedom Concerts in the next few days. Sean Hannity's book tour for "A Conservative Vicotory" starts tomorrow at the Reagan Library in Southern California. He most likely will be taking a private jet to the event. premierespeakers.com... Get your autographed copy of Coservative Victory at premierecollectibles.com for only $30.00!. Get your Freedom Concert tickets at www.hannity.com Listen to people trying to dupe you at 630 AM,WMAL! (3/29/10) KJ in scenic Laurel, you are taking Olbermann's words out of context; he was talking about crimes by powerful people in history, and he also mentioned in the same breath the KKK. The commentary, if that was what you are referencing, was not comparing Bush to Hitler. "Hitler is in the White House" was comparing Obama to Hitler. (3/29/10) UCC might want to double check the Babelfish now and then. Ochos Negros would be, literally, "Eight Blacks." "Ojos Negros" would be "Black Eyes," or, colloquially, "Dark Eyes."- ER (3/29/10) Dave, you wrong again, as usual. A suicide bomber implies that an individual blew oneself up without killing innocent bystanders. FoxNews is the only outlet that labels these freaks for what they are - killers of others. (3/29/10) Dave's response: "The suicide bomber killed three civilians." There, it's all said efficiently. No need for the word "homicide." It's completely useless and pointless, like Steve Doocy..... "If this is true, should Hannity go to jail, or what?" Or just continue to ignore you jerkoffs. (3/29/10) WEBR zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz. So which tv station is going to start the "news" at 3:55 am? Doesn't seem to bode well for TMZ that channel 5 has reduced from 3 showings a day to 1 in past 6 months or so. I like the humor on the program but curious why so many of the same hollywood folks show up on the show. i.e. Hugh Jackman for instance. I appreciate Mr. herzog's work over the years and still thin he got jobbed by getting let loose from the Dreadskin's play by play job. Just coincidence he leaves and all other these personnel changes at WTOP. Say did you see Allison Starling in that light blue off the shoulders dress shown Saturday night on channel 7 as she hosted or co hosted one of the many gala's for rich folks here in D.C. very nice. (3/29/10) OK...I was incorrect. Move On didn't run the Bush-Hitler ad. However....Olbermann DID compare Bush to Hitler....Maddow DID talk about "facists in the WH." MW....yup....this is a broadcating forum....filled with "Palin is an idiot" and "Bush is/was an idiot" and "right-wing this" and right-wing that" and the special hatred reserved for Conservatives in general must make you feel extra-potent. Once again.....it's your turn....man up..... KJ (3/29/10) re: The movie Private Parts. "Anybody who says an $89.5 million return on a $28 million investment isn't successful just doesn't know what they're talking about." Okay, first a movie has to earn twice it's production costs to break even because 50 per cent of the ticket price goes to the theater owners. Also figure in promotional costs for the movie -- usually not cheap. And, are you sure this movie received foreign distribution? I'd be curious about your source for the worldwide gross dollar figures on this picture. (3/29/10) Here’s one for everyone on the board to think about and hopefully have some fun with, whether you’re in the business or a hobbyist, like an SWL: Which Equipment Test records would you rate as “best”, “worst”, “strangest”, or “most unusual”? The records must be those you’ve either played on-air yourself or heard while a station was testing –not during “regular programming” of any kind. My nominees? Best: toss-up between “Into the Groove” by Madonna, “Walk Don’t Run”, by The Ventures, and “Flashdance” by Irene Cara. Worst: Another three-way toss-up: “Rose Garden” by Lynn Anderson, “Sugar Baby Love” by The Rubettes and “Kiss Me Honey” by Shirley Bassey. Most Unusual “Man of Action” by The Les Reed Orchestra. And, for strangest, we have a tie: “Cecil, the Unwanted French Fry”, by “The Real” Don Steele, and “Ochos Negros” (“Dark Eyes”) by Nat “King” Cole. –Unsigned Corporate Suit (3/29/10) Verizon backs off FIOS expansion ....... If Verizon Communications Inc. hasn't already started wiring your city or town with its FiOS fiber-optic TV and broadband service, chances are you won't get it. Where it's available, FiOS usually provides the only competition for cable TV apart from satellite service. Studies have shown that its entry into an area leads to lower cable prices, though FiOS itself has not been undercutting cable TV prices substantially. But Verizon is nearing the end of its program to replace copper phone lines with optical fibers that provide much higher Internet speeds and TV service. Its focus is now on completing the network in the communities where it's already secured ''franchises,'' the rights to sell TV service that rivals cable, said spokeswoman Heather Wilner. That means Verizon will continue to pull fiber to homes in Washington, D.C., New York City and Philadelphia -- projects that will take years to complete -- but leaves such major cities as Baltimore and downtown Boston without FiOS. Full story at .... www.nytimes.com (3/29/10) Good for the folks of Central Pennsylvania that they found a way to get MASN on TV up there. I remember two summers ago, right after we got it in Winchester, that MASN actually picked up the Service Electric telecast of four Reading Phillies games when they were hosting Harrisburg (AA Nationals). I figured that wasn’t going to turn the tide, but it WAS fun to see a few of those games on TV. They also showed a few Norfolk Tides (AAA Orioles) back in 2008, but I don’t recall seeing any minor league games on MASN, CSN or TCN last season. TCN used to have an Eastern League game of the week when it was still CN8. Maybe someone will show us a few of Strasburg’s starts this spring. I would not be shocked if a DC station or two sends a crew over to Bowie when Harrisburg shows up there in a couple of weeks, especially if Strasburg is pitching one of those games and they can show a few highlights. By the way, still no MASN on the Shentel cable in Shenandoah County... Charles in Winchester (3/29/10) Hannity misrepresented the Freedom Concerts' financials and ownership! scienceblogs.com... So, the Freedom Concerts only gives $4.00 per ticket sold to the Freedom Alliance, when Hannity promised 100% of the proceedes go to the scholarship fund? If this is true, should Hannity go to jail, or what? (3/29/10) Apparently it takes two people to fill Howard B's shoes in front of the green screen. In addition to Lynette Saturday and Monday, I saw Emily Gracey doing WUSA-TV's live weather segment Sunday night. Emily did weather on WMAR-TV for a little while into last year but her career would be more sucessful on an off-air path because of the voice and lisp. (3/29/10) Paul wrote: "Having to hear Howard Stern drone on to movie wife Mary McCormack about how successful ''Private Parts'' was [it wasn't] and hearing him warlble on about he's soley responsible for HER career is cruel...." Stern might be a jerk, but making things up to try to make him look bad only makes you look foolish. "Private Parts" was made for about $28 million and made half that back in its first weekend of release; it went on to make an estimated $41 million in the US, about half that much again in overseas release, and has pulled in something like $28 million more since Paramount released it on DVD. Anybody who says an $89.5 million return on a $28 million investment isn't successful just doesn't know what they're talking about. (3/29/10) Having to hear Howard Stern drone on to movie wife Mary McCormack about how successful ''Private Parts'' was [it wasn't] and hearing him warlble on about he's soley responsible for HER career is cruel. A few rain showers....not so much. Paul (3/29/10) As if the WMAL crew hasn't shot themselves in the foot enough times over the past week, groups are now claiming to the FTC and the IRS that Sean Hannity's charity is deceptive! www.huffingtonpost.com... Do you think the private jet usually furnished to Sean will still be in the picture this summer? (3/29/10) I can not believe that you called out Fox News as "half-baked journalism". With all the crap that MSNBC spews out? Chris Matthews recently said Fox does not do debates on their channel. Matthews must be living under a rock. but must still get chills up his leg when Obama speaks. (3/29/10) Dave's response: They're both crappy news channels..... Dave, FoxNews calls "suicide bombers" by the term "homicide bombers" because the former does NOT remind the consumer that the perpetrator has indeed murdered innocent civilians. (3/29/10) Dave's response: As opposed to what, murdering "guilty civilians"? What? It's not enough to simply say a bomber killed a certain number of civilians? Calling him/her a "homicide bomber" is redundant and completely unnecessary..... I listen to WMAL. That is how I know the following; Obama is a socialist, Muslim, born in Kenya, that wants to redistribute wealth in this country. Obama is similar to Hitler in that regard. George W Bush was good to get rid of WMD in Iraq (Iraq, at least in part, was responsible for 9-11), but he was wrong on immigration reform. Send them back. Ann Coulter is right-let them ride camels up in Canada. Sarah Palin is as real and down home as it gets-she will make a great President come 2013. JD Hayworth is an honest conservative. Ronald Reagan is sitting on the right hand side of God. Health care is socialism. Send all the illegals back. Build a fence, shoot them on the spot. Terri Shiavo could have been saved. Jeff Gannon was a “terrific White House Bureau Chief.” Vote conservative in 2010. Nix that, vote for “conservative Republicans” in 2010. Marty was a “great American.” Michael Steele was pelted by Oreos by Black college students, and he is wrong when he said he doesn’t remember it. Americans don’t want this healthcare because Michelle Bachmann told me so. Do you want to know what a great American I am? I will tell you. I have bought Mark Levin’s books, Sean Hannity’s books, Michelle Maulkin’s books, Ann Coulter’s books, Karl Rove’s new book, Sarah Palin’s book, Jerome Corsi’s books on Obama and John Kerry, most of Dick Morris’ books (the one on Hillary becoming President scared me), and I almost bought that book by Carrie Prejean that Sean Hannity told me was “a terrific book for teens,” but for some reason it was pulled from the shelves (damn liberals!). I have also bought a lot of gold, so, I went to free credit report (code word “sean”), and for only $14.95 got my free credit report. Since I bought so many US gold coins that were found in a stash in Europe, I joined Lifelock, and got two month’s free (code word “sean”). Looking forward, because WMAL is cool, I know who to call about my back taxes, pajamas for my soon to be girlfriend, and getting a hearing aid (Finally Hear, get it?). I don’t know; did Hillsdale make the sweet 16? (3/29/10) Dave's response: Free Credit Report's credit reports aren't free. They're bald-faced liars. You'd have to be a complete idiot to do business with them. Sheesh. I remember there used to be a bank that offered "free checking" for "a low monthly service charge." Gawd...... WEBR gets mentioned a lot on this forum because of people with axes to grind. I have been one of those people. But I want to take a second and point out the numerous quality programs that are on WEBR. "Feed Yur Head" with Rachel - Monday's at 3pm, "Global Seduction Radio" - Thursday's at 9pm, "The Dave and Dave Show" - Friday's at 9pm are good examples of the quality programming on WEBR. I encourage each mailbagger to tune in to these shows and give them a shot. -TOGS (3/29/10) A reporter's fiance was on the front page of the Virginian Pilot newspaper this weekend. Scott Chambers is engaged to WJLA anchor/reporter Natasha Barrett. Inside the paper she also gets a photo credit. hamptonroads.com (3/29/10) When, exactly, is Frank Herzog retiring? Various reports and people have, or had, him retiring a week ago, on Monday, March 22, on Friday, March 26, or on Wednesday, March 31st. Which is it? Why do some reports have him retiring on March 26th? Or March 22, which was apparently the day of his retirement party? Or is it March 31? If it’s March 31st, why didn’t TOP do the whole retirement thing on that day? The retirement definitely wasn’t March 22 or 26—Herzog’s anchoring on TOP today, Monday, March 29th, 2010. When, exactly, is Herzog actually retiring? And, by the way, just how many anchors, part-time anchors, full-time anchors and fill-in anchors does Channel 9 need? No wonder they’re losing money--and viewers. (3/29/10) Dave's response: Frank's last day at WTOP is Wednesday, 3/31..... Devon and Lynette are a breath of fresh air compared to that curmudgeon Howard Bernstein. All of us here at Channel 9 were surprised about his so called spinal issues and many of us wondered if he had a spine. I am sure he is going to mend very quickly now that the ratings are going up at Channel 9 with him away. Stay home for a few more months, Howie. Your double breasted K & G suits need a rest. (3/29/10) FoxNews' policy is to call terrorists who blow themselves up for the intent purpose of killing innocent civilians HOMICIDE BOMBERS. To the posters that think FoxNews is stupid for using this term, the joke is on you. (3/29/10) Dave's response: Any bombing that kills people is technically a "homicide bombing" done by a "homicide bomber," even if the bomber doesn't kill him/herself. The term "suicide bomber" is for a bombing that also (!) kills the person who detonates the bomb. Technically, that person should be called a "homicide/suicide bomber." Once again, Fox News is half-baked journalism..... Does anyone know (or have a guess) why I can no longer get WMAR, WBAL, WBFF and WJZ's HD versions off of QAM? (Maybe that's not the right verbiage, but I hope you know what I mean). I get other digital stations, but not those. I reprogrammed my television, but they are still AWOL. (I only pay for Comcast's limited basic but get lots of stations from my HD digital television. I do not have a converter box of any sort). It's all sooooo confusing. (3/29/10) Dave's response: Have you tried re-scanning your cable channels? Comcast may have moved the local channel feeds and your TV simply needs to re-find them..... Hey Dave- Fox 5 started at 4:30am today and according to their program schedule they are sticking with it for the foreseeable future. But just like Channel 4, no official word. That leaves ABC 7 as the lone hold-out. Will they or won't they take the plunge? (3/29/10) I've never heard anything sillier than Tony Kornheiser opening his show by explaining that "it is supposed to be funny, it's supposed to be satirical and it's supposed to be subversive." What an idiot. Since when are stale jokes about mail service and airline food "satirical"? Does the old man really think his boring, long winded stories about lunch at the Palm are really sticking it to the man? Korny has taken himself way too seriously way too long. Give him a dictionary so he can look up the meaning of the word "subversive" and put him out to pasture already. (3/29/10) Re: "Guess all of those good upstanding lefties who are just SO UPSET at Andy Parks' comparison of Obama to Hitler haven't gone to Google Images and entered "Bush Hilter" for a little trip to Nostalgia-Land...." While I think comparing either Bush or Obama to Hitler is pretty stupid, I can at least understand the reasoning behind the Bush comparison. He invaded a country which even he later admitted was no threat to the United States and he was responsible (by his own administration's estimates) for the deaths of tens of thousands of innocent people. Obama has supported changing the way medical bills are tallied and paid for. One connection is much easier to make than the other, don't ya think? (3/29/10) RE: "Plante sounded kind of shocked, like "Oh shit how do I handle this?". Well being the radio professional he is, he should have hit the dump button or whatever it is called. He has no problem turning down the volume on the callers who disagree with him. Yet he let this one go. HMMMM (3/29/10) Was curious as to why the local stations are now coming on at 4:30. Is there really an audience for a 4:30 start time?. (3/29/10) Dave's response: Gawd, I feel sorry for people who have to get up at 4:30 for their morning commute. That's got to suck, big-time..... (Is it coincidence that Frank Herzog exits and Del Walters suddenly appears? They couldn't wait over at wtop to at least let the door hit Herzog's back before making all the changes in personnel?) Total BS. Frank decided to retire. HIS decision. TOP managment asked him to stay, but he wants to do this at this stage of his life. Stop smearing an icon in our business. (3/29/10) Jim London's memories of WQAM's monster plate and spring reverb are correct - and joined by mine. As he said, it was contained in what looked like a giant packing crate that sat outside the air studio. Only on a station like Q-56, with an audio rolloff at 3 or 4k could you have such a harmonic-plagued beast in the audio chain. And yeah, if you bumped or pounded on the thing, you heard it on the air! These reverbs never sounded good to me - they just made "mud" in the air signal. But because people grew up hearing it, oldies stations love to toss in some reverb for some so-called "authenticity." BTW - if you go into Google Maps "street view" you can see WQAM's original building on Arthur Godfrey Boulevard, where Todd Storz gave himself a big headache one night. JYoung VOA-TV (3/29/10) (DCRTV wonders how an Alexander diversity review would fare at the DC area's major commercial talk radio station, Citadel's WMAL, which features an on-air line-up that's entirely white and male.....) Dave....with all due respect, I think you could make a similar criticism of WHUR, WKYS, WOL, and other Urban stations that have virtually no white males or females on air. I'm not saying that's bad, either. What I am saying is that if it's OK to have stations that appeal to blacks, Hispanics, Koreans, etc, why is it wrong to have a station that appeals to white males? (3/29/10) To the poster who referred to me as "ailing Howard Bernstein"...how about "the recuperating"? I hope to get cleared Friday by the doc to be back to work next Monday, April 5. Have a great day! Howard (3/29/10) Frank Herzog's new business: railroad baron - Colin (3/29/10) umterps.com - Johnny Holliday, in his 31st season as Voice of the Terps, was recently honored as one of the most prominent figures in the state. The Daily Record's fourth annual list of 'Influential Marylanders' features state residents from all walks of life who are influential in a wide variety of ways and settings, ranging from restaurants to professional football to the federal bench to middle school. (3/29/10) It really makes Fox Business Network look so stupid when they run: "2 Female HOMICIDE Bombers Kill At Least 37 People And Injure 38 On 2 Moscow Metro Trains In The Morning Rush Hour" on their news crawl. Even as 'Imus in the Morning' newsman, Charles McCord and an ABC reporter on the scene, refers to them - correctly - as "Suicide Bombers". Never mind the Style Book, especially if it interferes with Fox being in its own special little world. (3/29/10) WUSA9 has a new meteorologist in for the ailing Howard Bernstein. Lynette Charles is doing the weather on 9 this morning. (3/29/10) Re KJ in Laurel...I repeat, this is a broadcasting forum, and the criticisms many have voiced are over the unprofessional conduct of an alleged professional broadcaster. Your political issues are just that...your issues. MW (3/29/10) No, MoveOn.org DID NOT air a "Bush is Hitler" ad. MoveOn held a contest for people to make ads, and the winning ad would air on TV. Somebody entered an ad they made into that contest. (They weren't screened). As soon as someone alerted them to it, they disqualified that ad and removed it from their site! slate.msn.com (3/29/10) Lake Braddock?? Another reason to dislike Lisa Baden! Maybe she and Mad Kukes, and Fellow LBHS Alum, can do a show together after Lavar is canceled. (3/29/10) /\ March 29 Messages /\ \/ March 28 Messages \/ WRC announced OTA this morning that they were starting at 4:30 newscast. Has anybody heard any updates when they will be going HD news? Bob Fairfax (3/28/10) MW....maybe no one here specifically has said anything regarding the "patriotic" bit....but you cannot deny that the media in general portrayed Cindy Sheehan in that manner,helping her spread her dreck that Bush "murdered her son." That's just one example of the type of garbage that was once called "patriotic dissent" that is now taboo. I maintain that all of this huffy outrage over the Obama/Hitler comparison rings quite hollow....no matter the source. Kinda sucks having it slung back at ya.....does it not? You had your eight years....man up and take it. KJ, Laurel MD (3/28/10) Have any local stations ramped up their HD radio power levels? Believe 6db was allowed with an additional 4db increase on a case-by-case basis. Interferrence limited. Thanks (3/28/10) Apparently 4 is going to start its local news at 4:30 am beginning tomorrow, 29 March... www.packofseven.com ...haven't seen anything official though. (3/28/10) I just relistened to the Plante show from Wednesday. I heard the segment where the *GASP* N word was used. Why would they pull it or bleep it? It was a caller, not the host saying it. It's not on the FCC "no say" list. The caller (I'm guessing she was African American) also referenced a Chris Rock bit (a VERY funny one BTW) where he uses the word extensively. Plante sounded kind of shocked, like "Oh shit how do I handle this?"; I wish there'd been video of his reaction to that. He did say after she hung up "Let's not have more of that". Not an issue unless you're the same person with the hardon for WMAL as the Parks basher. (3/28/10) To Jim Bohannon; How Fab that you've found us! I loved your legendarywork with Larry King, Fred Lowry, et. al. Welcome to our world as a "Mailbagger"! Rusty Gibson a former "Kingaholic" (3/28/10) Does Joey Reynolds know Harv Moore? Is it coincidence that Frank Herzog exits and Del Walters suddenly appears? They couldn't wait over at wtop to at least let the door hit Herzog's back before making all the changes in personnel? And did Mr. Herzog really say with straight face that lil' danny had nothing to do with him getting canned from the dreadskin broadcasts? And that lil' danny does not interfere with his businesses like that. Now that brought a big guffaw to this joker. Is the Local Living section of the thursday Washington Post becoming more of a craft and life style section and having less and less content devoted to "hard" news in the various areas it serves? Is the purchase of the local Fairfax times suppose to take over in terms of having more real news for each area? Thing is the Fairfax Times is nowhere tobe found in my area this week. You know I haven't bought one Washington Times since the gutting. Is it me or the O'Meara podcasts are getting more and more ponderous? (3/28/10) “HAHAHAHAHA I just downloaded the Chris Plante show "podcast" from Wednesday and yes indeed the called who used the N word FOUR times unbleeped is still there! Who is in charge over there? (3/27/10)” I guess the same person who is “in charge” over at You Tube (which must have MILLIONS more viewrs & hits than little old WMAL let alone Chris Plante’s show) where anyone could readily still pull up these gems: “What Have We Done? - Black Woman Doesn't Like Obama No-More” www.youtube.com and the classic I HATE OBAMA!!!! www.youtube.com (3/28/10) Re Bush-Hitler comparisons.....Move On.org ran an ad called "Bush is 30 Seconds" which morphed Bush into Hitler. The monumentally odious Olbermann compared Bush to Hitler AND Chamberlain in one of his rants. Rachel Maddow referred to "facists in the White House". KJ Laurel MD...formerly of Rockville who fled being taxed to death to support stuck-up Anniston fans..... (3/28/10) When I joined WCFL Chicago in 1980, I got to marvel at such stuff as their reverb box, the desk where Dick Orkin created "Chicken Man", and a 48 rpm turntable. Yes, a 48 rpm turntable, re-geared to make 45's sound "just a bit brighter than the records on WLS". I'm sure they wound up, not at the Radio Hall of Fame where they belong, but at the bottom of a dumpster. Jim Bohannon (3/28/10) To KJ in Laurel: I am not aware of anyone here maintaining that it was " "patriotic" to dissent in such a manner". Since this is a place about broadcasting, posters have (in my view) been correctly sharing their outrage (though not surprise) that someone who is supposed to be a professional broadcaster behave in such an unprofessional manner. The fact that AM radio is knee deep in the sludge that is conservative talk is no excuse. For those of us who remember WMAL in its previous form, the demise of this once great local station to the bottom feeder status it currently occupies is both sad and disappointing. MW (3/28/10) Re; Lisa Baden. She's OK with me. And didn't she graduate from Lake Braddock High School? Rusty Gibson (3/28/10) Did anyone catch Lynette Charles' live weather segment on WUSA-TV Saturday night? Much better thant the night before when WUSA aired Topper Shutt's recorded weather segment. (3/28/10) WUSA-TV 9NewsNow lied to us. It sneaked in a pre-recorded weather segment with Topper Shutt during the late newscast that followed Friday's NCAA basketball games. What an insult to viewers and ripoff to advertisers. The recorded forecast aired about 12:38am Saturday. The failed atttempt at a seamless transition from the news anchors was awkward and there were no current weather conditions presented. WUSA's obvious effort to hide its little secret shows very poor management judgment and only serves to hurt its image as a trusted source, if it had one. Topper never should have agreed to record a forecast for broadcast and anchors/producers should have objected to being part of it. I hope sponsors that probably never counted on taped weather when they paid big bucks for their ad time raise hell with their account execs on behalf of viewers. If Gannett/WUSA-TV can't afford to pay a live weather talent it should be honest with their customers and audience . A live news anchor should have presented the weather segment instead of attempting this lame deception. Could you blame advertisers and viewers for running to the competition now? (3/28/10) Re: "The Balls Box". When I first sat down in the air-chair formerly occupied by the legendary Rick Shaw at WQAM, Miami in 1975 and heard my voice slinkied through the Q-56 reverb unit, my biceps suddenly ballooned to 18 inches and I could bench press my car. It was literally a wooden box, about 12 feet long and a foot or so square, encasing a huge spring. It sat along a wall in the room adjacent to the main on-air stidio. One day an unsuspecting guest sat down on it while I was on mic. The result was a gigantic BOINNNNNNNG reminiscent of a sonic boom. Sped-up 45's and reverb on AM radio were gasping their last breath in those days but it sure was fun.--JL (3/28/10) Leave Lisa Baden alone. What the hell is with all the ragging on her? She has better articulation and diction than probably any other talent in town. Most would call me grumpy, but Lisa makes me laugh. Lisa is a class act, a nice person and a rare example of a lady. She got where she is by working her ass off, not giving her ass up for a promotion as is all to common. I think the criticism is more envy and jealousy than criticism. Either way, leave the lady alone. A former coworker, and not at WTOP. (3/28/10) /\ March 28 Messages /\ \/ March 27 Messages \/ In a post today someone wrote: "How much have the ratings dropped since they fired Brian Eagan? Real smart CC, but a penny saved, right? Citadel should call Eagan, Seth Warner, and Jim London bring back KIX 106 kick MZQ's *ss. That would give CC could a stick for Rush Radio in DC." - Hey Dave, I read this tonight and laughed (my name always gets misspelled). I agree with your Rush Radio assessment. I doubt Citadel is gonna flip and go Country. 105.9 will probably stay Classic Rock. Anyway we're moving. House is on the market now and after the school year, we're headed out. Where to, depends, on if I get a job. (I'm under consideration for a few smaller market gigs right now). No job, we're moving to Nashville. Cost of Living is MUCH less. I did get some air time in a (TV) studio recently. I'll be appearing on Comcast's Local Edition a week from Monday talking about the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's Team in Training program and the many exciting Fall Endurance Event Teams people can join. The Fall Sign Up/Information Sessions begin around the area April 10 and the Fall Season Kick Off is May 15th. To find out more, and to find out when a TNT information session is taking place near you, use this link: www.teamintraining.org... All The Best! Brian Egan... Oh yeah, The Answer to the question posted above (All Access: 6+ 3.8/633,900 in Sep09 and 2.4/498,700 in FEB10) (3/27/10) HAHAHAHAHA I just downloaded the Chris Plante show "podcast" from Wednesday and yes indeed the called who used the N word FOUR times unbleeped is still there! Who is in charge over there? (3/27/10) KJ in Laurel, there way a tea party rally in Chicago last week and a bunch of yahoo's showed up with Obama as Hitler signs. No one here is complaining about those nuts. We accept the reference as nutty of comparing anyone in the current US political theater to Hitler. These are people that don't understand history, they are on all sides of the argument, so we ignore them. Also, there is no reference, as far as I know, to a political commentator on the left comparing Bush to Hitler on the air or on a cable network. Do you have one to show me? Parks made the comparison on the air; it then becomes a different situation all together. There comes a responsibility with broadcasting, and Parks went way over the line. BTW, Did you know in the film Management, Jennifer Anniston played a chick living in Columbia, MD. A guy asks if she has relatives around. Jennifer says "My mother lives over in Laurel; she sells insurance to deaf people." Jennifer then shows him a picture of an older woman in a polyester sweat suit. It could have been any woman at 7:00 PM at The Tasty Diner or Sam & Elsie's! Is there still a sign at the Laurel Meat Market that says "Chickens slaughtered Daily"? (3/27/10) DCRTV Dave says, “…Citadel is second-only to CBS Radio locally in the "We Absolutely Don't Know What The Fuck We're Doing Department…" Dave, with all due respect, there is a serious difference between “not knowing” and “not caring”. $hitadel is the former. CBS Radio is the latter. And, they really don’t need to. When your billing is producing OFCF above targets, you don’t really need to care. If your OFCF is even positive, and you’re running pink noise 24/7, it doesn’t matter. This is business. It’s all about making a profit. Is it good radio? The sales of iPods, XM/Sirius receivers, the number of people on cellphones, Blackberries, or texting while driving should say it all to anyone in this business,,. Not to mention how WTOP’s PPM ratings cut across some very serious demos! Face it… Radio is not the preferred entertainment medium it once was. Nor will it ever be again. At least in the D.C. market. 40 years ago, the D.C. market was the leader in FM adoption. Now, look at the leadership here of non-broadcast/non-ad supported aural entertainment media. Steve Drepperd’s rant of a couple of months ago about the importance of local radio as an information source during a mere emergency –as opposed to a full-blown crisis- was on the money. However, radio’s importance today is as an information medium, instead of entertainment. As such, it can at best support perhaps two strong stations in a major market. In the medium markets, perhaps only one moderately strong information-oriented station can survive. All other formats serve a niche audience of varying marketability. The economic model of broadcast radio is starting to resemble that of communism: Shared poverty/ Regarding costs of providing information, look at TV. Look at the number of merged local newscasts, with perhaps Honolulu as the most extreme example. As for radio, this reminds me of a recent quote, “… surrender gracefully the playthings of a reckless misspent youth: clean air, tuna, Taiwan, and WHFS…” (I guess the last means that if you want “Fresh Garbage” (by Spirit –as opposed to Grandy and Grandpa, or Chris Plante on WMAL) on your radio, it’s source will likely either be a CD or your iPod. -Unsigned Corporate Suit (3/27/10) (Wouldn't there have been an on-the-hour ID, local spot/promo playback and intro for Secure Freedom Radio?) Yes, had there been satellite relays working. Without the relay coming from the satellite, the system - had "nothing to listen to". E (3/27/10) Just FYI, WTOP finally came out with an iPhone app. I discovered it today. Works great but it seems to still be in Beta and needs a few improvements, such as allowing users to keep a favorite traffic camera, instead of having to do a set up every time the app is opened. I travel quite a bit to Boston. This is going to be really useful, as I depend on WTOP traffic and weather when I return and -- up until now -- have had to log on to a laptop to access WTOP's website. Now, if WTOP would only come up with a button on its app that automatically turns the volume down when "political analyst" Mark Plotkin begins to blather. (3/27/10) "Entering" the age of hypocrisy?!?? I suppose those who enjoyed the way things were would certainly feel that way after lying,cheating and stealing thier way through highly enjoyable lives only to find those tactics work both ways and that they had no special superiority,intelligence or divine entitlement after all. No the working class is not basking in well deserved reward right now but at least we aren't being force fed the SAME old lies... now instead of condescending atttitudes and indifferent 'superiors' we get the chance to see those 'better than thou's' throwing world class tantrums,screaming "I told you so"s and doing what they do best which is to continue to fuck things up and point fingers. Welcome to a world that does not cater to you. We've been here all along. I'm not defending Obama I'm just saying the formerly powerful had a nice long run and for us it sucked while it lasted but then life sucked for most who had the audacity to be honest and the backbone to actually be talented at something rather than simply good at criticizing others and grabbing what they can. Que:Nine Inch Nails-Head Like A Hole which can be heard on HFS. Donnie (3/27/10) "WTNT: What you heard (or didn't hear) on Thursday night was a failure of the satellite dish audio coming to the 4th floor." --- Wouldn't there have been an on-the-hour ID, local spot/promo playback and intro for Secure Freedom Radio? (3/27/10) WMZQ's numbers are down to an abysmal 2.4. That Boxer experiment is an epic FAIL. How much have the ratings dropped since they fired Brian Eagan? Real smart CC, but a penny saved, right? Citadel should call Eagan, Seth Warner, and Jim London bring back KIX 106 kick MZQ's *ss. That would give CC could a stick for Rush Radio in DC. (3/27/10) Dave's response: Yeah, but that would require Clear Channel's Premiere syndication arm to yank Rush and Hannity from Citadel's WMAL, and Citadel carries the two in many major markets, including NYC, SF, and Dallas. It would be easier and cheaper for CC to do Rush Radio on 102.7, which is a Baltimore market signal, where Rush and Hannity are carried by little old Mangione's local WCBM. Plus, 102.7 has a great signal into the DC market, especially if it's transmitted in mono. AMer WMAL would continue to carry Rush and Sean, but Rush could now be heard on FM in Baltimore and much of the Washington market, too..... After day one of the voting of my contest of "Who has Washington's Best Sports Talk Radio Show." The votes are pouring in for the shows on ESPN 980AM but the shows on 106.7FM The Fan are lagging behind. It seems like only La Car and Chad are getting votes and the Junkies have only a handful of votes thus far. Voting continues thru Wed and then I will do a column on the results. washingtonexaminer.com... Cheers, Jim (3/27/10) (From an earlier posting re WDMV) "Therefore, the licensee is in the process of establishing a new studio and local management." Oh, I have to follow THIS story over the next 90 days! Who locally is going to work for this company after its history and practices have been extensively chronicled here? And where are they going to build a studio? Word gets around among realtors and management companies after someone vacates two or three other facilities (the Wisconsin Ave address under unsavory circumstances). (3/27/10) Guess all of those good upstanding lefties who are just SO UPSET at Andy Parks' comparison of Obama to Hitler haven't gone to Google Images and entered "Bush Hilter" for a little trip to Nostalgia-Land. Back then...it was "patriotic" to dissent in such a manner. We have entered the Age of Hypocrisy. KJ, Laurel MD (3/27/10) Unfortunately, there is nothing wrong with the WTNT (or any RZ) automation system. What you heard (or didn't hear) on Thursday night was a failure of the satellite dish audio coming to the 4th floor. E (3/27/10) I'm surprised that many folks are upset about Lisa Baden's traffic reporting, given how difficult it is to drive with a broomstick in that position. (3/27/10) (Seems like in the old days a reporter like Kimberly Dozier would be a lifer at CBS news but I guess them days are gone.) No, they're not. A top CBS source told me she WOULD have had a job at CBS Radio News for life if she wanted. It was her choice to join AP's National Security team. Ron Fournier wooed her away. (3/27/10) Rusty, unfortunately you have misspoken..again. We never mentioned "Mr. Gavin" on the show last night. You can go back and check it out later today on our podcast. And thanks for calling in last night. Sorry we couldn't get you on the air. But you understand and all. I'm sure you had problems putting listeners on the air yourself yesterday. -TOGS (3/27/10) (quote) Can Rivendell handle 64 closures between satellite and console? (end) Sure, why not? It talks to the most modern Axia and Logitech consoles, and to reasonably-priced off-the-shelf switchers; preferable to rebadged, marked-up gadgets offered only by the factory. (quote) Rivendell is fine if you have a staff with the talent and time to tinker with it. Time is money. (end) Assume your staff got the job because they HAVE some talent or can cultivate it, and apply it. If not, you hired the wrong staff. If time = money, likewise dead air = loss of money. WTNT had buckets of that to spare on Thursday night, regardless of what audio management system was behind the curtain. (quote) You don't mention what level of support comes with the $600 version of the Rivendell program. (end) For the record, there is no "$600 version" of Rivendell. Support for the free software version is through the Open Source community; everyone helping everyone else out in a timely fashion. With the software-only version, you can actually learn something about the program and equipment that drives your operation, and fine-tune it to do what you want it to do on the hardware of your choice (plus the immunity to Windows viruses). Hell, if you know what you're doing, you can open the code and REWRITE it to make something new happen! Prophet won't allow that. OTOH, a ready-made and burned-in Rivendell system can be purchased *with* customer support, and can drop into the rack and hit the air. IMO, depending on someone else hundreds of miles away to understand and fix *every* problem over the phone is not 100% practical; engineers of an earlier time never had to phone ITC to ask them how to change the bulb behind the Play button. Look Mac, we can fling our poop back & forth all weekend... since the damn thing is free, just pull down the newest version (V1.7.0) yourself and see what it is capable of today, rather than restate conclusions made five years ago (the author is no longer at Salem, has not been for awhile, and has been actively developing the software non-stop with a large community of contributors and authors). (3/27/10) Does anyone know where the drop dead gorgeous Meg Oliver landed after her CBS "Up To The Minute" anchor gig ended? Oh, and my thanks to those who tuned in to my "marathon" episode yesterday. OK John. How many listeners did I have? Since you're such an expert on that issue. As there weretoo many stabs at Mr. Gavin on YOUR show last night. You know I'm right. Rusty (3/27/10) Can someone explain something to me, please? So, the Edge calls it self 'Classic Rock that Rocks. Fine. Then how the hell can they play 'Take the money and run' by Steve Miller? What 'rocks' about that song? Look, I'm not asking them to make my ears bleed but if you say you rock - then effing rock for god's sake! Take the money and run (woo-hooo) is NOT a rock song. Maybe that's one of the reasons they only have a 2 share. (3/27/10) Dave's response: I'm still trying to figure out what Citadel's doing with DC's 105.9, which has yet to get any ratings traction since the August launch of hardish classic rock. I mean, the old Globe, WTGB 94.7, did hardish classic rock in its final six months only to get a ratings slump, before it flipped to Fresh female-ish rock last April. Yet, DC has a huge format "hole" for adult-oriented rock. 105.9 should broaden its playlist to include 1980s and 1990s alt rock, more classic rock deep tracks, and some cool new stuff from today. The model should be NYC's WRXP. Take a look at what RXP's playing: 1019rxp.com. With someone like Cerphe doing the morning show. Right now, 105.9 sounds like a small market classic rocker - "105.9 The Edge, Altoona's Classic Rock That Rocks." Under Citadel, WMAL is sounding more nasty and foolish than ever with talking point-reading boobs like Chris Plante (the biggest local idiot on DC radio - period), and 107.3 is about as bland and dull as it's ever been. Listening to Jack Diamond these days is about as much fun as watching someone getting fat. Please, Citadel, just sell your DC stations. Citadel is second-only to CBS Radio locally in the "We Absolutely Don't Know What The Fuck We're Doing Department." Sheesh..... "And, after listening to that thing he calls a "show"" -And we thank you for listening. Granted, you're not a good listener (neither myself nor any of the other "f**k buddies" reside in Manassas), but we thank you nonetheless for tuning in. Be sure to join us next week as the legendary Dennis Murphy is scheduled to join us in studio. -TOGS (3/27/10) Rivendell is used at WAVA because it is cheap, the format is very structured so the integration is fairly modest, most of the content is syndicated and most especially because their director of engineering wrote the program. Since when is RFA using Rivendell? Last I heard they were using DAVID and AudioVault. I suspect Rivendell is only being used for certain ancillary applications and not the core delivery. David Baden's needs are too complicated for simple software. He rejected almost all American made products as too simplistic for RFA. Also, you dont mention what level of support comes with the $600 version of the Rivendell program. Comments on an industry board have not been quite so complimentary. Radio America, being a fairly small operation and 'push' of content is quite different than a local station that pulls content. RAN can decide how it wants to provide control info to the affiliates and can go as cheap as it wants in automation, passing on the burden of automation to affiliates. But, when you are ingesting 12 programs across eight syndicators on four different satellite platforms, you have to have an automation system that is highly flexible and allows the breakways needed for local and live content. Can Rivendell handle 64 closures between satellite and console? Prophet does that far better than any product out there. You dont mention the backup and multi-station interaction ability of Rivendell. You mention all stand alone operations. WTNT has to interact with three other stations as well. Buying your automation on price is usually a disaster. Rivendell is fine if you have a staff with the talent and time to tinker with it. Time is money. Most stations lack time, talent and money to buy something cheap that may not be a real savings. (3/27/10) Reading some of the bullshit rendered by John Collings, this idiot is sooo insecure, And, after listening to that thing he calls a "show", confirms my opinion about him/her. A no talent individual along with his fuck buddy that is also on. A previous poster was correct when he was called a Don Geranamo wannabe. Admitting that he lives in Manassas speaks volumes of his "personality" (your horny little sister is waiting for you). Hopefully you'll eventually hook up with Lorena Bobbit. Who probably lives next door to you in your Palatial Prince William County Trailer. (3/27/10) RE: What are Andy Pollin and Czaben doing in Las Vegas? Me thinks it was all comped by the casino and thus the plugs and I bet there was money for the station too. Much of sports radio’s hosts and listeners are bettors…JFK: Lurch, don’t bet on Cakes, Junks vs the Gov, Brandon Lang. TEM Czaben, Mr. Tony and James Carville, Kevin Sheehan and the smell test. It all makes sense to do an on site advertisement. Where are the JFK folks this week? Wrestlemania! Does that make more sense tournament time? OB (3/27/10) Dave- Don't you think Dell is being brought in on WTOP to take over for Frank Herzog when he retires? Wouldn't that make sense? (3/27/10) Hey! Lisa Baden has to talk about the most annoying, stressful topic we have in the area-- freakin' traffic. Her talent lies within how we don't feel like crap after listening to a report on what a crappy situation we have on our hands. That woman has probably got the hardest job in DC radio, and I'm glad we have her! (3/27/10) /\ March 27 Messages /\ \/ March 26 Messages \/ Jesus someone has a hard-on for Andy Parks. Did he run over your little poodle with his SUV or something? You talking to yourself in multiple posts in the mailbag is getting VERY tiring. Nobody else cares. (3/26/10) When did FOX5 begin broadcasting at 4:25am??..I heard about channel 9 starting at that time, but just saw a promo today about FOX5 starting at that time. (3/26/10) Can't channel 7 and it's army of weathermen lend out to channel 9 and 4 during these times of duress? Seems like in the old days a reporter like Kimberly dozier would be a lifer at CBS news but I guess them days are gone. Say is that Lara"hey look at me" Logan person still at CBS news? (3/26/10) What are Andy Pollin and Czaben doing in Las Vegas? There are no tournament games there and no other sporting events as far as I can tell. They keep repeating over and over the name of some casino. I thought that Red Zebra was so cash strapped? (3/26/10) (Farely got it from 1010 and 880 in NYC who did it first) Jim Farley (correct spelling) started his career at 1010 WINS in 1966. (3/26/10) "If Ms Baden were replaced tomorrow, I doubt there would be a significant impact on the overall rating of WTOP. Thoughts, anyone?" Probably true. She really worked in the Diary world because she was so memoable. Hard to tell in the PPM world because TOP ratings are even higher than they were in the Diary. So you are probably correct. It's the information, not the person delivering it. (3/26/10) From the form requesting silent STA: "Station WDMV was taken off the air on February 6, 2009, because of a control issue involving a time broker. The station resumed operations on January 10, 2010. The licensee has asserted its control over the station, but in the intervening period of time the licensee lost its studio site and local management. Therefore, the licensee is in the process of establishing a new studio and local management. Authority is requested to remain silent for a period of 90 days to allow this to be accomplished." Wow. So Birach must have been "phoning it in" for a month! (3/26/10) I know the format works and gets ratings with or without them. Farely got it from 1010 and 880 in NYC who did it first. He is not stupid. You’re not a true male if that women’s voice does not annoy you! (3/26/10) Dave's response: Vibegrrl wouldn't friend me on Facebook because she said I didn't like her voice (too nasal). Which is true..... I hope no one took the WDMV announcer's offer of buying some brokered show time up on the station. If I paid a coupla hundred bucks for an hour's worth of programming and found out they took the stick dark again for another year, betcher ayuss I'd be mighty angry. Strange too, because the Birachs are such pleasant people to do business with... (3/26/10) Regarding Lisa Baden and ratings, I don't necessarily think your liking or disliking of a personality and respective ratings are necessarily related. You listen because you know you are going to get traffic reports at a specific time. Who is delivering the report is essentially insignificant. People either like or dislike Dick Vitale, as an example. If he's doing a Tarp game, I'm not going to "not watch" because of him, so ESPN gets the ratings anyway, and presumably think Vickie V is great. He's got absolutely nothing to do with me watching. I don't particularly like Clark Kellogg, but I'll watch the NCAA Championship Game anyway. Once entrenched, like Billy Packer was at CBS, it seemingly takes forever for the broadcast entity to catch up with the populace and admit it's time for a replacement. (Hint Hint: Marty Bass). If Ms Baden were replaced tomorrow, I doubt there would be a significant impact on the overall rating of WTOP. Thoughts, anyone? (3/26/10) reason; "So the typical conservative, in your erudite mind, is irrational, uneducated and a silly dresser?" This week, Andy Parks, a known conservative, said on the air "Hitler is in the White House." He refuses to apologize, and admit it was an asinine thing to say. So, at this point, your above description is the picture someone on your side (namely Andrew Parks) is painting. (3/26/10) I love ya Dave, but you're headline is wrong. Leonsis has NOT yet bought the remaining holdings of Washington Sports & Entertainment. They've simply agreed upon a price for the Wizards and Verizon Center. The sale still has a few hurdles including approval by the NBA. – Jamesonian (3/26/10) Dave's response: Picky picky. Headline tweaked..... Well, it looks like the Big 700 – WDMV is silent again as of 3/23/10 (fcc.gov). They probably just fired it up so the 12 month “use or loose” rule wouldn’t kick in. (3/26/10) Learn what, Rusty? How to work an empty room? Look...I promise to tune in today if you promise to play some old Run DMC. Deal? (3/26/10) Mr. Collings (you Geronomo wannabe); Before you attempt to take potshots on my grammar, perhaps you should trash your copy of "Ebonics are us" before you even begin to critique me! Tune in, listen and learn little boy. (3/26/10) (Is it me or does everyone stuck in traffic each AM want to kill Lisa Baden?). Look at their ratings, OB. What do you think? Maybe it IS just you. (3/26/10) I'm not sure what automation system is in use over at 570 AM, but I'm sure an upgrade is out of the question due to the expense of the damned things. Companies won't talk to you unless you are ready to start with a $35,000 basic system and sign on to a long and expensive maintenance contract. There's a great piece of software making the rounds right now called "Rivendell", which is a full-featured radio automation system that does freekin' everything that the pricey systems do, but its *free* software which you install on a Linux computer. Its already in use locally at Radio Free Asia, Radio America Network, WAVA and WETA, and is being closely looked at by lots of other groups. It runs on a $600 computer and plain vanilla disk drive hardware you can buy at MicroCenter (the Linux operating system, like the software, is also free). I have no interests in it other than the fact I use it, and it rocks. WTNT, you listening? (3/26/10) Re: Anonymous Frum poster saying, "It gives me a good feeling to see a conservative who is rational and who isn't roaming the countryside, waving a misspelled sign, raving in a three-cornered hat." So the typical conservative, in your erudite mind, is irrational, uneducated and a silly dresser? Look, I agree with Frum in many ways, but the dismissiveness surrounding conservatives is really old. In case you've forgotten, here are some records of the same activities (and misspellings) on the liberal end: see: www.zombietime and www.sfgate.com and how about hydeparkassociates.com ). My point is that both sides do the same crap. And it's wrong on both ends. The same folks vilifying "Tea Baggers" as an angry mob are the ones where were insisting that Anti-Bush protests in 2005 were the height of patriotism and the violence and threats then were "understandable reactions" to the "murderous regime." Oh, and to keep in in the media realm, this posturing political crap is spewed - depending on which flavor you like - on MSNBC, CNN, HLN, FoxNews, NPR, ABC, NBC, CBS, PBS, WMAL, WBAL, all newspapers and a bunch of magazines, HuffPo, Daily Kos, Drudge and (increasingly) right here on good ol' DCRTV. (3/26/10) A caller to Grandy and Andy said this morning he wants to “take up arms” against the government. Grandy said “I would advise against that.” Way to go, Fred! These potential criminals and possible anarchists need some sense knocked into them, and you certainly put him in his place. I was surprised Andy didn't jump in and make his Hitler comparison again to further stoke the anger; that would have made for great talk radio! (3/26/10) Dave: Listening to various stations on my laptop here in Memphis yesterday and really can't believe we've hit the basement in sportstalk radio! Tell me where's the logic when 980 continues to cut people but let's Pollin and Czaban go-on a junket to Las Vegas to promote a boxing fight that has little appeal in our area? Again, another image or perception problem for 980 that doesn't look good. This is why I say WJFK has an edge over 980 because they know how to roll with the changes. Think of it, yesterday. Sheehan spends the entire show talking about the tournament, like he knows-it-all. The sad part was Sheehan actually had no problem saying that his show is run by Tom Lavarro...which couldn't be any further from the truth. Professional people or good radio talent know how to convey respect to others on-and-off the air. Sheehan can't do that with Tom during their show and yes, it shows. Later in the day, we get another school of thought from the Coach and then we have to hear a Las Vegas take from Czaban...say what? You don't hear this kind of bad programming on WIP or WEEI. Second, how about employing talent who can talk or know English? I'm not the only one to say this but come-on!! Those other sportstalk stations have slashed their budgets as well and know how to win while doing-it mean and lean and no excuses. Again, it all comes down to who you hire. (3/26/10) No it’s not!!! OB (3/26/10) (regarding a previous post) "David Frum, harsh critic of Limbaugh and conservative talk radio, and critic of the fumbling way Republicans handle healthcare, is out at the American Enterprise Institute. In order to get his job back, does he need to compare Obama to Hitler?" When I read Frum's essay, "Waterloo," the other day, I found it to be honest and refreshing - and, it has the added distinction of being spot on. It gives me a good feeling to see a conservative who is rational and who isn't roaming the countryside, waving a misspelled sign, raving in a three-cornered hat. I had a similar positive feeling back when Colin Powell broke with the Republican crowd in 2008, when he acknowledged that the country needed to change direction. He was right in that choice and in questioning McCain's judgment in picking Palin as VP. We're currently witnessing the madness that happens when rational and civil political discourse are replaced by the "angry mob mentality" of the Teabaggers. It's ugly and it's counterproductive. We hear them ranting and whining about having supposedly lost their "freedom". They look pretty free to me! I mean, I haven't seen any of them caged up in chainlink "free speech zones" which were the norm during the Bush-Cheney regime. Frankly, I think America could use more facing of facts, like Frum provided us in his essay. The Republicans ignore the wisdom and reality of his words, at their own peril. www.frumforum.com... (3/26/10) "Rusty Gibson will on for three (count 'em) hours today" -Hopefully his grammar will be better on the air than it is here in the mailbag. Otherwise, no one may listen...Oh wait...they already don't. (3/26/10) To OB: It IS just YOU! (3/26/10) Rusty Gibson will on for three (count 'em) hours today doing his oldies show on WEBR. From 5 PM to 8 PM. Listen at www.fcac.org/webr or on Northern Virginia cable TV. (3/26/10) So, on WTOP this morning, was Bruce Alan's sister on for a free commercial masquerading as a "news" interview? (3/26/10) Starting today and for one week I am allowing listeners to vote for who they think has the best sports talk show in town and who is the top personality. Fans of the show can either email me at jwilliams@washingtonexaminer.com or by following me on Twitter and voting via tweets. It should be fun! The rest of the details are below: washingtonexaminer.com... Cheers, Jim (3/26/10) David Frum, harsh critic of Limbaugh and conservative talk radio, and critic of the fumbling way Republicans handle healthcare, is out at the American Enterprise Institute www.cbsnews.com... In order to get his job back, does he need to compare Obama to Hitler? (3/26/10) What the hell is wrong with Andy Parks this week? Did Mark Levin lock Andy's IPhone on to World Net Daily or something? (3/26/10) Radio Equalizer: In an unusually candid rant, MSNBC libtalker Ed Schultz tells radio listeners he believes the next "socialist" takeover by the government should be on all the radio airwaves: www.realclearpolitics.com (3/26/10) Yes a dual market HFS would be excellent and as it should be. Jerry,the HFS jock,keeps mentioning a big announcement coming in April. Says its great news for the HFS legacy. Only 2 things I can think of that would actually be GREAT. aitch...efff...ayyesss(Gomer accent on the S) What are you gonna do with a machine that lets you travel back in time to witness great moments in history? 3-2-1 REWIND!!!!! Donnie (3/26/10) Did you see this little ditty? Union Busting, Bloomberg Sale Looming at ABC News? www.huffingtonpost.com (3/26/10) (snip) Just have better automation than 570 in Bethesda! (end snip) Boy, ainnit the truth. 570 has been mute for a good part of Thursday evening; I started listening at 8:45 -- no Michael Savage, no Secure Freedom Radio, no network news, nuttin'. If not for WMAL, the AM dial would be mute right up until 730 Spanish Sports. (3/26/10) Is it me or does everyone stuck in traffic each AM want to kill Lisa Baden? Her perky attitude is like a hot skewer through the temple. And, in the afternoon, is Bob Marbourg ever reporting the traffic you are heading to? Or, if he is not, you are stuck in a place that he said was clear five minutes before??????? And, do we need weather every ten minutes in a non-weather event day? On typical, no storm days, its the same thing over and over. It doesn't change every ten minutes but traffic does. Give extra time to traffic. This is a huge area to cover in DC. OB (3/26/10) /\ March 26 Messages /\ \/ March 25 Messages \/ Did anyone from WMAL place in the CP's Best Of Washington? Plante, Parks, perhaps Trucker Radio? Regarding The Hate Boat, their first Port of Call can be Iraq where they can find the WMD's they all assured us were there a few years ago. The sub-plot line can be Julie (Played by Palin), by the end of the program gets up the nerve to go up the fumbling, facts challenged, passenger (Played by Chris Plante), and say "When the Governor of Alaska and Vice Presidential Candidate declared on your radio show the stupidest remark made on the campaign trail in over 30 years, why the hell didn't you dump it?" Riveting television, I tell you! (3/25/10) While 99.1 would make a good dual market signal for CBS, the smart thing would be to put WLIF there to improve on the success of that product. Would they do it? Hell no! CBS isn’t that smart. As for a “Rush Radio” product on 102.7 and marketed to both Baltimore & D.C… it could work if the station carried the WMAL concept of “(almost) no local origination” to its ultimate expression –None! And, with CC owning all the source material, the costs wouldn’t be much worse than a Jack$hit station-in-a-closet. Sell it only to national accounts and market it without specific identification for either Baltimore or D.C. and it could work. Just have better automation than 570 in Bethesda! Would CC do it? Likely not. CC isn’t much more than Citadel with a slightly better balance sheet. -Unsigned Corporate Suit (3/25/10) RE: "Could some explain why Wilbon is sooo uppity & obnoxious?" Uppity? Uppity? *using southern drawl* Wahhh yesssir, those negroes sure are uppity now-a-days! With their fancy pants educations and all! Oy Dave - I don't know how you put up with it! (3/25/10) The Hate Boat is a great idea; Brian Neiman can play Isaac. Maybe Chris Plante can be the fumbling annoying passenger who criticizes everything with the wrong information! There is no need for Doc; doctors are required to think analytically, and we all know that doesn't happen on the SS WMAL. (3/25/10) Could some explain why Wilbon is sooo uppity & obnoxious? Whenever one mentions "college sports" and "college" issues such as college player (so called 'student athletes') conduct or academics Wilbon gets all uppity and goes off on how dare someone questions the morals, conduct or GPA of these 'college athletes'. (3/25/10) I was up at 1801 Rockville Pike for the WMZQ St. Jude radiothon and all this talk of Rush Radio coming from a mysterious studio at 1801 that would broadcast over 102.7 in Baltimore has gotten me thinking: nationally-syndicated radio talker Randi Rhodes does her show from 1801 Rockville Pike and if they wanted to do Rush Radio, why wouldn't they use the studio that she uses for Rush radio instead of building another one altogether. (3/25/10) Dave's response: I dunno. Maybe CCDC leases the studio exclusively for her use and they can't use it for anything else..... RE: "(Listening to 106.7 Mike Wise is like herding your brain around the thoughts of a stuttering cat....." Yes, I hate to admit it but Mike is starting to wear on me. Not because he isn't interesting or gives thought provoking arguments, but he's not very good at live radio. His constant "um's" and "uhh's" really work your nerves after a while. Its just like B-Mitch. I love him and his viewpoints but he's no Johnny Holliday. (3/25/10) Have you heard anything about Imus coming back on the radio here? in Washington DC (3/25/10) Dave's response: Nope. He got no significant ratings when he was on 105.9 and 570 before that..... (Listening to 106.7 Mike Wise is like herding your brain around the thoughts of a stuttering cat.....sleds his stumbling bumbling Wash Post word currency downhill into nutty radio wisdom. I like Wise but he is slow, plodding and predictable. Listening to Wise like hauling wet cement uphill.) Now you know why Washington Post Radio, which seemed like a brilliant idea on paper, crashed and burned. (3/25/10) Frank Herzog will be on Washington Post Live with Ivan Carter this afternoon starting at 5 PM. (3/25/10) (snip) comparing breast feeding in public to pissing in pubic (end snip) Wow! Where do you buy your XXX DVD's? Al McGilvray (3/25/10) Thanks, Rob in Richmond. Good possibility. Dave, why do you think CC would want to mess with WQSR by putting "RUSH Radio" there? The station seems to consistently perform around 5th-8th in the monthly ratings, and I'd suspect it's a low cost product. Cross-marketing in both Balt & DC never seems to work particularly well, Elliott being the most recent example, with maybe "Don & Mike" having modest success in Balt. (3/25/10) Dave's response: Clear Channel could use the Baltimore signal of 102.7 for a talker that would serve both Baltimore and DC. If you combine the two markets, you get the fourth largest market in the country. Likewise, CBS should also be looking again at dual market service for 99.1, which it did when HFS was around. Something that should come around again..... Now that Sarah Palin is a tour guide I have an idea. Let’s call her Julie. Maybe we can have Grandy revise his role as Gopher. Add Parks as Captain Stubbing, I mean Captain Stupid and we can launch The Hate Boat. (3/25/10) Listening to 106.7 Mike Wise is like herding your brain around the thoughts of a stuttering cat. I wouldn't mind kitty thoughts except that this guy seems to know nothing about local sports and sleds his stumbling bumbling Wash Post word currency downhill into nutty radio wisdom. I like Wise but he is slow, plodding and predictable. Listening to Wise like hauling wet cement uphill. Bill Rohland and Chris Johnson are four-hour saints; Rohland and Johnson are local, quick, and knowledgeable. Why can't we have a local sports show with locals like Rohland and CJ and lose the Wise devadrama? (3/25/10) I can dream of setting one dial all day can’t I? I understand money and own a company. My point is there is enough talent between them to make a station where the key male demos would generate a profitable situation. (3/25/10) Gutsy, brilliant CNN cameraperson Margaret Moth died this week. CNN did a program about her last September. Here is Part One. (3/25/10) Hi, Dave: With respect to your article: (Comcast Adds Pentagon Channel In MD - 3/25 - The Pentagon Channel and Comcast today announced that the Arlington-based military channel is now available in Annapolis as well as Anne Arundel, Calvert, and Charles Counties.) FYI: I believe that you are telling readers about additional areas where the Pentagon Channel is now available, but I wanted you to know that I can also view the Pentagon Channel in Bowie MD [Prince Georges County] via FIOS on Channel 124. I don't know if you aware. Keep up the great work guy. I'm moving soon to FL, but I will continue to read you everyday to keep up with the goings-on here in the DC area. (3/25/10) Dave's response: Yeah, the Pentagon Channel is carried on other systems, including RCN's local systems, via Verizon's Fios throughout the DC area, and Comcast in DC and PG. Comcast still doesn't carry the channel throughout much of Northern Virginia, including Arlington, where the Pentagon is located..... Lots of hysteria out there due to Demonrats effort: DCRTV’s viewing audience has seen in recent days via television and other media the phony victims having their way with “hate speech” accusations & depicting the so called “right-wing” as being dangerous. DCRTV fans should be more leary of one “party” dominating the mailbag versus the other, but Dave won’t let his viewers know that because of his proclivity. (3/25/10) Dave's response: Nick, other than your increasingly unfunny and unceasing unsigned jests against Kim Martucci, I've only cut one other Mailbag message in recent days - a rambling nutty rant about why Obama is the new Hitler, which had no media references..... (Look at the sport talker basic ratings. You have to know they key male demos are somewhat reflective. JFK probably skews younger male and TEM older. I know M&M is cheap but if they added some local talent there and removed JT2 with anyone that cared, they would swamp JFK.) OB, folks here in the Mailbag love to play fantasy baseball. But in the real world, decisions are based on revenue, not ratings. I think you are probably right ratings-wise. But the reality is WTEM has been shedding people and costs for quite some time. The revenue model must not work for them, and that's what will influence whatg they do. (3/25/10) Ah….”The Balls Box”….. A real good substitute for that contraption is to hang a Slinky over the mic. housing (assuming there’s no huge windscreen on it already). Back in my days at WMUC-FM (the mid 80’s folks), DJ Ken Hankin used it on his show each week and you could swear he was using a $10K EMT plate to get that effect when you heard it on a radio! Carl Merson WNAV. (3/25/10) Nice of Frank Herzog to take the high road, and let Snyder off the hook, but he team signs off on all of the play by play announcers. If Snyder wanted him there, he would have been there....Period! Larry Michael was Dan Snyder's first broadcasting decsion. Herzog represented the past link to Jack Kent Cooke which Snyder hated with a passion. (3/25/10) Previously on DCRTV.com: “Anyone know what's up w/ESPN's "Mike and Mike"? Golic was off Wed/Thur/Fri last week, and Greenberg has been off this week. Seems strange that they are on vacation at this time of year, what with the NCAA Tournament, and their personal annual bracket challenge.” They’ve got a huge book tour coming up in April and May (if you’ve heard the show at all in the last 6-8 weeks, you’re aware of this). I suspect they’ve been told to get some vacation time out of the way now for scheduling purposes. And Kuselias isn’t THAT bad as a sub host… at least he doesn’t make my ears bleed like Cowherd does. I want to know who at ESPN Radio that Cowherd has pictures of… – Rob in Richmond (3/25/10) Dave - Love the latest rant!!! Look at the sport talker basic ratings. You have to know they key male demos are somewhat reflective. JFK probably skews younger male and TEM older. I know M&M is cheap but if they added some local talent there and removed JT2 with anyone that cared, they would swamp JFK. They are wining on the other shows by far. You could split the current cast of the MOS podcast in those two slots. Put Oscar on With Drab in Am. Drab is the best sports guy at JFK anyway! I bet he is not under contract. It is always better at JFK when LaVar is dealing with personal issues. Put the rest of MOS in the JT2 spot. I think Mr Tony would be a great lead in to Mike. They are both cranky sarcastic old guys. To be quite honest, Big O and Dukes would be perfect against the junkies and help get the younger male demo to lead into the older dominated Mr. Tony. His ratings on PTI with younger viewers are strong already. Once hooked, they’ll stay. OB (3/25/10) Andy Parks who earlier this week said “Hitler is in the White House,” and Fred Grandy, had Michael Graham on their show this morning. Michael is famous on DCRTV for comparing breast feeding in public to pissing in pubic, and protesting a Newsweek story in front of the wrong office building. Anyway, Mickey went on and on about how the liberals were bad and the Tea Partiers are good. There was really no substance to Mickey’s arguments, not a surprise, and he glossed over how the tea Partiers are posting addresses etc. of members of Congress (and their relatives), the same way the anti-abortion crew does for certain doctors. So, they yucked it up for a while, and a good time of liberal bashing and stereotyping was had by all. Later in the show, a caller confronted Andy with a legitimate observation that Andy never criticized Bush for not looking at the polls, so why criticize Obama. Just like Monday, Andy lost it. He started yelling at the caller, berating him in an unprofessional way, and then hung up on him. Observation; There is something seriously wrong with Andy this week. Does he need a vacation? Is this behavior caused by a mental health issue? Seriously, it is clear Andy is wound too tight, and he is snapping towards the last 20 minutes of the show. Human resources needs to help Andy; give him some relax time; have him switch with Plante for a while. do something... (3/25/10) Re: WDMV 700 – See where Birach got busted in Michigan for not watching the store (read no employees on premises) to the tune of $30K, but at least it seems that the FCC knew where the “store” was. Obviously, no one either works or monitors WDMV except maybe some contract engineer. Even if the FCC wanted to “inspect” the station, where would they go? What a waste. (3/25/10) Grimble, re: WTOP. Do the math. The ratings are posted for all to see. Do the math. (3/25/10) "It may be news to the Washington Post, but regular listeners to WJFK knew about Herzog's situation when it actually happened--it was addressed in detail on the Don and Mike Show." Big difference between a bunch of jocks discussing a radio rumor or speculating, and Paul Farhi reporting the fact with an actual quote from Frank Herzog. Reporting factys is not the same thing as discussing rumors. (3/25/10) Add another to the guarantees in life. Along with living, paying taxes and dying, dave will post at least one thing about don and mike on this site. Love the site Dave, but get over it man. They haven’t been on air for how long now?? Let it go. (3/25/10) (RE: I see Wendy Reiger has been filling in for Doreen and sayint that Doreen's "off tonight"..Another MIA for Doreen or is NBC requiring their employees to take furloughs due to budget issues?) Enough with the speculation anytime someone from WRC is off for more than a few days. Haven't you idiots ever heard of VACATIONS? BTW it's Rieger, not Reiger. (3/25/10) Sorry to see recent posts slamming Kim Martucci's looks. Never met her, but she's actually a very beautiful lass and probably just as nice with her personality. By the way, it occurs to me that Baltimore star radio personality Trish Hennessey bears an amazing resemblance to actress Reese Weatherspoon. I offer this as a compliment from a guy who's known her for quite a long time. (3/25/10) In addition to the test pattern for WTTG here are 3 old test patterns for channel's 9-11-7 www.ggninfo.com -- www.ggninfo.com -- www.ggninfo.com (3/25/10) Dave, I thought it was distasteful and poor journalism for WTOP to have Mike Moss’ brother in studio this morning to plug his new airline, which begins service from Dulles in May. It seemed more like an infomercial than a real news story! Dave (3/25/10) WDMV 700 has been off the air for 2 days now and still off this morning. I live about 3 miles from their towers near Walkersville. (3/25/10) Did WDMV 700 AM not make it to sign-on this morning? I had WLW Cinci coming in all the way to 7:45. (3/25/10) Two questions: (1) What speed-dial position does automobile lobbying firm AAA occupy on WTOP's phone system? I'm guessing it has its own key. (2) On WTOP's Morning Zoo, how many more stories could be pilfered and read from a newspaper each hour if Mike Moss limited his incessant chuckling / editorializing / commenting? --The Grimble (3/25/10) THIS IS A JOKE, RIGHT?......"Today, March 24, 2010 was declared Kate Amara day in the City of Baltimore. WBAL-TV also revealed that Kate Amara will be leaving WBAL-TV to go south to the Hearst Washington Bureau where she can be seen every day. Congratulations Kate! "....Question: Why would baltimore HONOR a TV anchor who reads OFF A SCREEN, and not well ...WTF? Casey in Overlea (3/25/10) Kate Amara on “Rescue Me”….yum! (3/25/10) A lot has been said about Andy Parks saying "Hitler is in the White House," the idiotic management of WMAL keeping the audio on the website for days after the incident happened, Parks refusal to apologize, ands the alleged management's endorsement of that stupid decision. But here is the real reason Andy Parks needs to apologize; it was a really asinine thing to say, and because he said as a retort to a caller who Parks disagreed with, Parks lost his credibility as legitimate talk show host. Parks needs to address the situation honestly and apologize for going all whacko bat sh*t crazy on a caller. (3/25/10) /\ March 25 Messages /\ \/ March 24 Messages \/ RE:"WHY IS SHEP BEING BIASED AGAIN? SHEP GETS HIS MANHATTAN PIANO BAR PANTIES IN A KNOT OVER..." AND SINCE WE'RE ALL SHOUTING IN CAPS, WHAT ABOUT THE HIGH PRICE OF BANANAS? WHO'S FAULT IS THIS! (3/24/10) Bernstein out at Channel 9 and the remaining two knuckle heads are left. Who gives a shit? No one is watching that trash and nobody cares. That station is going down, it already looks like a public access channel. (3/24/10) “The Balls Box”… Yes, several of my first stations used those on the mic. Most (in)famous were the various iterations from Fairchild/Robbins. The heart and soul of those things were one or more steel springs. Yes, kiddies, in the days before digital reverb, it was mechanical! (Some really small stations used a tape loop reverb. But, that was really crude and rude. Not to mention embarrassing if the tape snapped while the mic was open!) And, they weren’t just used in Top-40, either. Many a small-market C&W station had one, too. They were not only on the air mic, but also in production. Most memorable were the drive-in movie spots at my first station. The PD would have us really crank-up the reverb on those! Why? Think about the primary purpose of drive-ins for teenagers in the 1960’s! Ironically, the real name for the one near us was, “The Orchard”, which was no doubt appropriate. Among the cinematic “greats” at “The Orchard” were stink bombs like “The Playpen” and one movie I recall having what looked like a wax head of Hitler in a gallon moonshine jug with it melting at the end. As for the delay boxes of the sixties, you probably wouldn’t want to use them today as they no doubt created enough phasing artifacts as to be unlistenable in stereo. Plus, being mechanical, all sorts of strange things could happen. Like if you were lucky enough to do the “henhouse” morning show (very rural agricultural community with many chicken farms), if the station got too cold overnight (cinder block building with the heat turned-off after the FM sign-off at midnight. (The “facilities” were “out back” between the building and the tower,)) there was a chance the spring would snap if the Siegler oil heater didn’t warm the place fast enough. (The AM drive guy had the responsibility of opening a valve on the back of the heater, watching for kerosene to flow into the burner and then throwing a wad of UPI paper into the thing and tossing-in a lit match. Hopefully, it caught OK and it didn’t blow-up in your face before you could close the firebox door!) This was of course slightly before sign-on at sunrise, as the FCC hadn’t yet invented PSA. A station legend was that late one night there was a beer party in the air studio. And, just before signing-off the FM, one of the participants kicked the reverb at the outro of the network news, resulting in the live copy sign-off (Because carts were expensive, the sign-on, sign-off, and many spots were live reads on that station!) being delayed by several minutes. Funny thing is, believe it or not, back then you could buy simple reverbs (but similar in concept) for under-dash mounting in your car at almost any auto parts store as well as from J.C. Whitney. I remember units by Tenna and Automatic Radio in particular. And yes, we had Scotch tape on the turntable driveshafts to speed-em up to about 47 or 48 rpm! Of course, in later years it was really easy with the strobes on a turntable, –Unsigned Corporate Suit (3/24/10) REF: "Is it a coincidence that the Wizards worst year in franchise history, coincides with the 1st year the games were awarded to a CBS DC property in WJFK. Lmao." Is it a wonder that the Wizards have never won anything since changing the team nickname and there being only one sports station in Washington, DC during that entire period? I'm guessing short, yellow bus, correct? (3/24/10) Where's Kate Amara going? I saw AP's Ben Nuckols tweeted out that Mayor Rawlings-Blake gave her a shot out today, just curious. (3/24/10) Dave's response: See below..... Today, March 24, 2010 was declared Kate Amara day in the City of Baltimore. WBAL-TV also revealed that Kate Amara will be leaving WBAL-TV to go south to the Hearst Washington Bureau where she can be seen every day. Congratulations Kate! (3/24/10) I see Wendy Reiger has been filling in for Doreen and sayint that Doreen's "off tonight"..Another MIA for Doreen or is NBC requiring their employees to take furloughs due to budget issues? (3/24/10) It may be news to the Washington Post, but regular listeners to WJFK knew about Herzog's situation when it actually happened--it was addressed in detail on the Don and Mike Show. We knew it was to eliminate a salary with a staff guy who was there anyway (and couldn't hold a candle to Herzog, no matter what Doni Geronimo says). -Chainsman (3/24/10) Ann Coulter spreads the love, up in Canada!... "Take a camel,” if you don’t own a flying carpet, [Ann Coulter] told a 17-year-old Muslim girl at U.W.O. who had asked about flight restrictions following the terror attacks upon America. www.vanityfair.com (3/24/10) WHY IS SHEP BEING BIASED AGAIN? SHEP GETS HIS MANHATTAN PIANO BAR PANTIES IN A KNOT OVER SO CALLED "THREATS" FROM 'TEA BAGGERS' TO MORON, IDIOT US CONGRESSMEN... BUT NOT A PEEP ABOUT THE ACTUAL VIOLENCE & THREATS AGAINST ANN COULTER AT A COLLEGE EVENT IN CANADA. (3/24/10) Last week Robb Spewak was in town..now President Obama is in the Iowa City-Coralville area..so tomorrow (thursday) Robb's show follows the President's speech here at 2 eastern, both of which will be streamed @ 1630kcjj.com. Click on KCJJ RAW. (3/24/10) Former President Bill Clinton has a new career: He's George Bush's towel. www.breitbart.tv (3/24/10) Dave wrote: "Dave's response: Seriously, folks, if you don't like what you're hearing on a radio station don't complain to the station. Just let their advertisers know." Or write into the Mailbag four or five times a day with updates calling the WMAL show hosts names ("Hammity") while trying to drum up a boycott campaign over idiotic Hitler comparisons that, while unfortunate, are right out of the Dem playbook during the Gingrich revolution in the mid-1990s. Disgusting then, disgusting now, but like another Mailbagger wrote, this monitoring of the station is a tad uncomfortable. Go ahead and do it if you've got the time. It's your right, and the station has an obligation to be responsible in what it airs. But maybe you could save up all your outrage for just one post a day and spare us all the blow-by-blow breaking headlines about every comment that offends you? Also: You might want to sign your name. Failure to do so is cowardly. Christian (3/24/10) Folks, the Mailbag when through the whole "[insert President's name] = Hitler" thing last summer. Howie and others made some good points during that discussion about the difference between a mention on mainstream media versus a mention in political advocacy ads or materials. And Dave cut it off for being not media-y enough, despite that it kinda was very much about the media. Anyway you slice it, it's still wrong and reprehensible to compare any democratically elected leader to Hitler. Or Stalin. Or Mao. It is, however, very funny to wonder where were all the wailing mailbag libs were when Bush was being eviscerated using the same or worse terms. Here's a great clip showing that CNN is perfectly comfy showing a depcition of Bush as not only Hitler, but as Devil-Hitler without a negative comment, while 3 years later that same "journalist" is shown actively pushing back on a protester saying the Obama is a fascist. (see: www.youtube.com). Heck the Guardian (hardly a minor paper) attempted to directly link Bush to Hitler via a thin piece about Bush's grandfather (www.guardian.co.uk). Dave didn't call for a sponsor boycott of CNN sponsors or call out corporations that advertise on www.gardian.co.uk.... But now..... Wow. Bob in Forest Hill (3/24/10) There is a lot of fighting on this board, and for it, we can blame not only Andy Parks, but WMAL management. WMAL is attempting to dumb down of a section of society, or cause social friction, by not recognizing or admitting there was fault here. Back in the 1950’s, Hitler was still in the forefront of a lot of people’s minds in the US, Great Britain, and Canada. Politicians sometimes compared each other to Hitler. The simple retort was “You need a history lesson,” making the accuser appear to be uninformed, uneducated, stupid, or a grandstander. For the most part it worked, and comparisons to Hitler in the political arena died down quickly, as it was perceived socially to be a remark made by fools or the uneducated. So 50+ years later, Andy Parks shows us he is capable of the same uneducated and asinine comparison, and WMAL doesn’t feel they have the responsibility to apologize and minimize Mr. Parks now perceived lunacy? WMAL needs to do the right thing here and apologize to the President, and to their listeners, for such an awful remark. (3/24/10) In response to the 'pitch change' comment. WRQX still pitches up all their music. Only a few percent but up nonetheless. Digital makes it so much easier. (3/24/10) Dave's response: RQX is also one of the worst offenders in making music sound like a big muddy "mush." I guess it sounds better on cheap clock radios, but it sounds like pure crap on any decent audio system. Almost as bad listening to the tinny sound of many satrad music channels..... Reason; “For all the people that bitch and moan about what’s said on WMAL, why do you listen to it? If it’s a right leaning show and you don’t like it, TURN IT OFF.” I listen to WMAL for the same reason I read my wife’s Cosmo magazine; to be aware of what the other side is saying, and plan what I am going to say/do accordingly. (3/24/10) For all the people that bitch and moan about what’s said on WMAL, why do you listen to it? If it’s a right leaning show and you don’t like it, TURN IT OFF. Must not be that bad if you’re able to comment on the show, means you’re listening morons. (3/24/10) Sorry, but when some radio clown compares the President of the United States at Adolf Hitler, I'm not about to "get over it." But, since we're on the subject, Barrack Obama is President, so maybe you right-winger/tea baggers should "get over" that! (3/24/10) WPGC never did use any of the “enhancers”. Just top of the line mics and the great BLACK BOX-(echo chamber). All the jocks were just havin fun and the mics made them sound like “GOOD GUYS”. (3/24/10) I am sure glad healthcare reform passed. It appears both Andy Parks and Chris Plante seemed now to be having violent nervous breakdowns, a loss of common sense, and are having uncontrollable vocal blather. I hope there is something in ObamaCare that can help Andy and Chris get better. Laura (3/24/10) Re;, pitch speeds. Didn't WPGC and WRQX used to do that on a regular basis? Rusty Gibson (3/24/10) Guess what? Presidents are the subject of verbal attacks. Part of the job. Obama has had a walk in the park compared to most recent Presidents. If we have all this whining and hand wringing over one little comment like that, what is going to happen when the you know what really hits the fan on Barry? Get over it. (3/24/10) Unsigned Corporate Suit: Thanks for responding to my question about the high voice pitch of certain radio hosts. I didn't realize that could be corrected with something as simple as a microphone. Why would the host's current and previous managers have allowed them to sound so high-octane for so long? I figured it was in the way the hosts modulated their own speaking style. Levin used to start his show barking, "Good evening my friends!" but now says, slowly, "Good evening, my friends" in a much more relaxed manner. Makes all the difference in the world. Christian (3/23/10) WOW! Breaking News! Chris Plante just allowed a caller to use the “N word” (the actual word) on the air three times without cutting her off. This was after Chris lied and said Michael Steele was “pelted with Oreos” back in 2002 (even Steele doesn’t recall that). Stay classy, WMAL! (3/24/10) We should have a campaign to have everyone email and call WMAL and ask if "Hitler is in the White House" can be replayed on Friday morning's feature presentation "Say That Again." If they can overkill a Joe Biden gaffe, perhaps they can display that Andy Parks can make a horrendous verbal screw up now and then. grandyandandy@630wmal.com. Grandy and Andy comment line 202-895-2400. (3/24/10) I'm curious about the bed-wetting over the Hitler comments. Seems to me what's good for the goose is good for the gander. I recall Bush 43 was the butt of many of the exact insults and more and so-one that I can recall on this board made any demands for recompense. (3/24/10) Dave's response: Just curious. Which local radio station(s) aired "Bush is Hitler" commentary? Certainly not WMAL. Maybe it was WAMU or WTOP. Just kidding..... Unsigned Corporate Suit's point about equalization to make voices sound deeper jibes with I heard from a radio professional years ago - he said that many radio studios have "balls boxes" between the mics and the board. I wouldn't be surprised if some stations went beyond simple equalization and used pitch-shifting. Although I'm a radiophile, I'm not in the business myself, so this is speculation based on past history - during the days of vinyl, many pop stations played their 45s at slightly faster speeds to add punch to the music. (3/24/10) I don't know why everyone is so surprised that WMAL isn't taking any action on the "Hitler is in the White House" remark. That's exactly what their audience wants to hear, and it generates buzz for a station struggling for attention. Once upon a time, WMAL was THE station in Washington, and everyone listened to Harden & Weaver and all the rest. Today, it's a cesspool featuring the worst forms of political pornography - many decent Washingtonians (on all points on the political spectrum) would be embarrassed to be caught listening to WMAL. They might as well drop the charade that it's a real radio station and advertise their true colors on the sides of buses all over town: WMAL - Hate Radio 63. (3/24/10) Hey Dave, DCRTV has power. This morning, WMAL disabled the links the podcast of Monday's show where Andy Parks said "Hitler is in the White House." (3/24/10) Dave's response: Seriously, folks, if you don't like what you're hearing on a radio station don't complain to the station. Just let their advertisers know. I use AT&T and Geico and they advertise a plenty on WMAL. Just let 'em know that if they continue sponsoring insulting radio doofuses, such as MAL's Parks and Plante, you'll gladly take your business elsewhere..... Anyone know what's up w/ESPN's "Mike and Mike"? Golic was off Wed/Thur/Fri last week, and Greenberg has been off this week. Seems strange that they are on vacation at this time of year, what with the NCAA Tournament, and their personal annual bracket challenge. And who at ESPN thinks that Eric Kuselias is a great fill-in host? He's right there with Colin Cowherd on the awful meter.. (3/24/10) Diane Sawyer, sitting in Peter Jennings’s old chair, and seen through that Vaseline-coated lens is ridiculous. Her pseudo-drama and attempt at reading news fails miserably and David Westin should fix this. Stephanopoulos was fine. Why fix what ain’t broke? No wonder NBC is running away with the numbers. (3/24/10) It is 6:50 AM Wednesday. The audio of Andy Parks on Monday comparing Obama to Hitler is still on WMAL's website, and there has been no apology from Parks or WMAL management for such an asinine comment. I guess the management of WMAL supports diseminating crap like that. (3/24/10) Dale Carnegie said " If you are wrong, admit it quickly and emphatically." Andy Parks was wrong for saying on the air Monday "Hitler is in the White House." Why hasn't the management of WMAL admitted what Parks said was gotesque and wrong? Why hasn't Parks apologized? Why was the audio still on WMAL's website over 48 hours later? (3/24/10) Did WUSA hire degreed meteorologist Susan Schrack to fill in while Howard Bernstein is recovering? (3/24/10) I see that ABC's decision in naming Christiane Amanpour is getting some mixed reception. I don't know about any of you. Before Amanpour was even considered for 'This Week'... I believe ABC would have been better off in keeping George Stephanopoulos on 'This Week', instead of being re-assigned to 'GMA'. Chris Cuomo being named as 'GMA' co-host, instead of being re-assigned to '20/20'. Bob Woodruff co-hosting '20/20', alongside his former 'World News' co-anchor Elizabeth Vargas. I'm okay with JuJu Chang as 'GMA' news-reader, even though Kate Snow was viewed as the front-runner for the news-reader position. I'm aware that Kate Snow will soon be leaving ABC, to move on to NBC's 'Dateline'. I do believe ABC made the right choice in naming Diane Sawyer as 'World News' anchor. It'll remains to be seen if ABC made the right choice in naming Amanpour as moderator of the Sunday morning show that once bared the iconic David Brinkley's name. Just my thoughts. (3/24/10) From DCRTV -- "Herzog says he was dumped by WJFK, which then held the rights to broadcast the Redskins. "It was a money thing," Herzog said. "They wanted to use one of their employees, who had other responsibilities, so they could save one salary." Ha Ha Ha! or Duh Duh Duh! CBS Radio's Eastern Division under Scott Herman .Collapsing one of the greatest assets in CBS Radio. He's a Napoleon in broadcasting that Dan Mason needs to deal with ASAP. If he doesn't, those clusters and stations will die and die hard. Is this guy retarded? How can you operate a cluster of PUBLIC LICENSED STATIONS with 15 people? Nice. Scott Herman must GO! Radio Tea Party Here We come! (3/24/10) /\ March 24 Messages /\ \/ March 23 Messages \/ Might channel 9 bring back LeVan Reid with Ms. Walsh leaving? Of you can go back "home" again? Btws, how many black anchors and reporters versus big teeth broads over at espn? I see Russia Today carried by the MHZ network has increased it's footprint here in the D.C. area. You ought to catch the Keiser report on RT. It's like Jerry Mahoney has come to life. Lurchie over at Spork Chunkies on vacation even in the midst of the NCAA basketball tourney. They don't give a sh8t really? Hope podcast of tribute to Frank Herzog is available but say no lingering bitterness towards Sonny and Sam over the Larry Michael thing? (3/23/10) So with Howard Bernstein out, it looks like WUSA will only have a two-person weather team for the next few weeks. Topper and Devon will be putting in a lot of hours. It'll be winter storm mode for them, only without the winter storm! Hopefully neither of them gets sick or needs to take a day off... (3/23/10) The "Lowry Mays Excellence In Broadcasting Award". What an oxymoron! (3/23/10) Christian asked about why a couple of talkers with high-pitched voices sound an octave (or even two) deeper on air. There are a couple of tricks for doing this, and can be used either separately, or together, as may be chosen. The first is by carefully choosing the mic type. You want to look at the frequency response characteristics of various mics to seek what you’re looking for. Another is to use equalization to “shape” the mic audio to the desired characteristics. An argument can be made that such also improves your transmitter efficiciency by restricting radiated power to within a given bandwidth. A good discussion on this can be found on the ham radio boards –especially concerning Heil microphones. As a ham, I use a Heil mic with dual elements. One with a “narrow” response curve, which is great for punching through DX pileups, yet is uncomfortable to listen to for prolonged periods, while I use a more broadband element for casual hamming. Leonard Kahn –among others- have made mic-only equalizers of various types (and efficacy) over the years. –Unsigned Corporate Suit (3/23/10) March Madness is underway! Follow your favorite teams and see how your Brackets are holding up! WBAL Radio (AM 1090) is your radio home for all the NCAA Hoops action. Catch EVERY game of the tournament, exclusively on WBAL Radio! March 25th – Sweet Sixteen games start at 7pm.... March 26th – Sweet Sixteen games starting at 7pm.... March 27th – DIV II Championship game starting at 12:45pm.... March 27th – Elite Eight games starting at 4:30pm.... March 28th – Elite Eight games starting at 2pm.... April 3rd – Final Four games start at 5pm.... April 4th – Women’s Final Four games starting at 6:45pm.... April 5th – Championship game begins at 8pm.... April 6th – Women’s Championship game starting at 8:15pm.... If you’re a college hoops fan, keep your radio tuned to WBAL! Details are available at www.wbal.com. (3/23/10) Actually, as of 5:00 PM today, WMAL still has audio of Andy saying "Hitler is in the White House" on the WMAL website. They obviously are supporting Parks' claim. (3/23/10) Dave's response: Does it get any worse, radio-wise, than Citadel? Sheesh..... A Ticket For Rush! www.aticketforrush.com (3/23/10) Dave's response: Rush said today via WMAL that the amount of money raised by the website so far would barely buy Rush a bottle of his favorite champaign..... Is it a coincidence that the Wizards worst year in franchise history, coincides with the 1st year the games were awarded to a CBS DC property in WJFK. Lmao. (3/23/10) "public interest, convenience and necessity." Yeah, whatever. Now, if only the public, as embodied in the municipal authority of the communities of licensce to which stations are alloted, actually supported that noble goal. However, zoning laws, taxes, indifference, noise/light/traffic restrictions, as well as other regulatory oversights all impede that goal. How about every public venue is required to provide communications access,,,be it power, lighting, appropriate telco lines, microwave line of sight, equipment access etc for the electronic media to cover the events that these communities claim would be in the 'public interest blah blah blah" when they asked for an allocation. Let me know when the radio station got a discount at the local hardware store, or when the local hardware store advertised on the radio, or when the local public purchased items at the local hardware store after hearing an ad, and told the hardware store about the ad they heard on local radio. Local communities do not support their stations, and that is the root cause of the demise of radio. WTOP deserves their bragging rights. Its all good and well to quote the Comm Act, but the fact is that the acts of the public do not support radio. Its all good and well to cover a blizzard, but who covers the expenses to cover the blizzard? I have yet to see a radio station offered a discount by the electric company for the power, by the tax man for community service, a zoning exemption for the towers etc. I have long felt that communities should be required to financially and materially support the radio station allocated to the community. This is the essential fact that the FCC and the FTC conveniently miss. (3/23/10) Dave, maybe your radio-vet readers can enlighten me on this subject. I listen to Mark Levin and Thom Loverro, both of whom have high-pitched voices and both of whom, at some point, figured out a way to take their pitch down a notch, or five, while broadcasting. How much coaching is required for these transformations? The improvements are notable. Levin no longer sounds like a mouse, and Loverro can now talk about his beloved sport of boxing without sounding prepubescent. I mean no disrespect; I liked both hosts before their vocal changes, but appreciate that now I don't have to listen past the high-pitched whine to hear what they're saying. Christian (3/23/10) Dan Snyder did not fire Herzog. WJFK GM/SM Alan Leinwand fired Frank Herzog. (3/23/10) Andy Parks never did apologize for saying Hitler was in the White House. It appears WMAL management is accepting of that type of comment. Stay tuned next week for Andy to tell us Obama is what Nostradamus predicted as the third anti-Christ. Chris Plante will then follow up, labeling Obama as "the devil himself." Should make for great talk radio. (3/23/10) So wait a minute: Snyder DID NOT fire Frank Herzog? Andy he didn't cave in to the "suspend (or fire) Tony" crowd late last month? Man, if he could fix the Redskins, I might have nothing bad to say about him. Charles in Winchester (3/23/10) Did Andy Parks ever apologize on the air for saying that Hitler is in the White House? (3/23/10) WTOP staffer wrote: "'No need to toot your own horn, WTOP. It's known as 'operating in the public interest, need and necessity.' Right. And every radio station in Washington does it just likoe WTOP does, right? Right?" You make a good point, company man. Not every station delivers such public interest-serving fare as "Knuckleheads in the News," "Monkey News" and all the fast-breaking stories about items Kristi King and Michele Basch have found for sale on Ebay and Craigslist. Take the advice more people are giving you everyday: tell us the time and temperature, and then just shut up. (3/23/10) No excuses! Yesterday the "two dudes from Brooklyn website asked for donations of $1 each to send Rush Limbaugh to Costa Rica, first class. Within hours they raised more than $1100 and are now asking Rush where they should mail the ticket. If they don't hear from him, all the money will go to Planned Parenthood which--since Rush has no children (thank God)--he should surely approve. More info can be found here www.aticketforrush.com... ACH (3/23/10) [Must have found Kim Martucci's Bozo The Clown red dye stash (that's Lurch on the right)] Hey Dave, this photo of the poster who keeps busting on Kim Martucci unexpectedly turned up on photobucket. (Shawn in DC) (3/23/10) That’s fine with snyder and Herzog, but couldn’t snyder just hire him back now that the games are on snyder controlled airwaves? It’s not like he’s hurting for cash (3/23/10) Grandy and Andy and Chris Plante are functionally illiterate! All throughout this morning’s programs, on the heels of comparing Obama to Hitler, these three jackasses kept saying Obama promised to “redistribute the wealth” on the campaign trail. He did not. What he said was “spread the wealth.” In 2001, he did an interview where he talked about the Supreme Court in the 60’s during civil rights decisions didn’t go as far as to “redistribute the wealth,” but that was a historical academic comment, not a campaign statement. His actual comment on the campaign trail was “My attitude is that if the economy’s good for folks from the bottom up, it’s gonna be good for everybody. If you’ve got a plumbing business, you’re gonna be better off if you’re gonna be better off if you’ve got a whole bunch of customers who can afford to hire you, and right now everybody’s so pinched that business is bad for everybody and I think when you spread the wealth around, it’s good for everybody." As we all know, “Spread,” is not synonymous with “redistribute.” Definitions; Redistribute to distribute again or anew: The corporation will redistribute its share of the profits to its stockholders. 2. To alter the distribution of; apportion differently: Let's redistribute the work more fairly. Spread; to become stretched out or extended, as a flag in the wind; expand, as in growth. 16. to extend over a greater or a considerable area or period: The factory spread along the river front. 17. to be or lie outspread or fully extended or displayed, as a landscape or scene. 18. to admit of being spread or applied in a thin layer, as a soft substance: Margarine spreads easily. 19. to become extended or distributed over a region, as population, animals, plants, etc. 20. to become shed abroad, diffused, or disseminated, as light, influences, rumors, ideas, infection, etc. 21. to be forced apart, as the rails of a railroad track; separate. (3/23/10) OK, let's say for the sake of argument that the new company line about WJFK firing Herzog, rather than Snyder pink-slipping the legend, is true. Can little Danny explain, then, why Herzog hasn't been doing Redskins games since Snyder's station got the rights to them? Why is that jackass used-car salesman still promoted as "the voice of the Washington Redskins"? (3/23/10) I still haven't decided if the people at Fox 45 News in Baltimore don't watch their news, think that no one else does, or both. Day after day they repeat the same stories. Like health care. For FOUR STRAIGHT DAYS, they (sometimes Jeff, sometimes Jennifer) have held up a big pile of paper and proclaimed that "this is the health care bill," that it runs to 2,315 (or whatever) pages, weighs however many pounds and that it took 3 1/2 hours to download. I get the prop. I like the prop. It's cute. But only once, please. They are supposed to be giving us a reason to watch every day, not tune out by the end of the first quarter-hour. (And, by the way, I get that they don't like the health care bill, but a good organization would hide it much better). Bob A. in Pikesville, MD. (3/23/10) (No need to toot your own horn, WTOP. It's known as 'operating in the public interest, need and necessity.') That was the whole point the NAB was making to the FCC Monday. Local radio and TV stations DO operate in the public interest, so there's no need for the draconian re-regulation the current FCC is threatening to impose on local broadcasters, as well as grabbing spectrum now used by over-the-air broadcasters. Mike Moss and WTOP were invited by the NAB to make that point (along with Jim Handley from Ch. 4 and Topper Shutt from 9). (3/23/10) The actual phrase contained in The Communications Act Of 1934 is "public interest, convenience and necessity." (3/23/10) "No need to toot your own horn, WTOP. It's known as 'operating in the public interest, need and necessity." Right. And every radio station in Washington does it just likoe WTOP does, right? Right? (3/23/10) "Why the f*@! is Mike Moss testifying to the FCC about the blizzard. He coudn't even make it in to work some of the days during that time from what I recall." That's a bold-faced lie. Mike worked every one of his shifts during the blizzard, reporting live from the roads as he drove to and from his home in Loudoun County. (3/23/10) (regarding a News Page item) "WTOP broadcast live emergency information 24/7, WTOP news anchor Mike Moss testified, also noting that the station dropped some $140,000 in ads and incurred more than $50,000 in additional newsroom costs as a result of storm coverage....." No need to toot your own horn, WTOP. It's known as 'operating in the public interest, need and necessity'. (3/23/10) (regarding a previous post) "Hey Dave ... You let us know a couple of months ago after Haiti not to post politico stuff but today the loudmouths 'can haz' free reign?" Actually, Dave, it's perfectly relevant to have some comments on the Healthcare Reform issue, as it's probably the main topic on talk radio this week. And, it's nice to see some content to balance out - even a little - the deluge of right-wing talking points of the GOP and those TeaBagger morons! And, while I'm on the subject of right-wing bullshit -- There's been a lot of talk that the Executive Order by Obama won't be effective in keeping Federal funds from being spent for abortions. George W Bush used an Executive Order to block stem cell research and the Republicans thought that was just fine. And what about the Emancipation Proclamation? Wasn't that done by Lincoln, with an Executive Order? (3/23/10) Re:WMET To Air Guadalupe Network ...Is Patricia coming back? OB (3/23/10) For my discussion partner, I quote from Exhibit 21 of the Form 301 filed by Potomac Radio that you (indirectly) and I (directly) linked to: " This application is a separate filing for an 1190 kHz nighttime operation at the licensed WAGE site, which is a different location from the site specified in the separately filed 1190 kHz daytime application, which was granted on October 29, 2008 (See BP-20070118AEM). The daytime information supplied herein is for electronic filing system purposes only and is a duplicate of the material already filed in BP-20070118AEM." I believe thist means that the daytime facility construction permit is unaffected by the status of this application. Am I correct? Regards, Dave Loudin (3/23/10) "Noticed on the 7:00 pm Channel 9 news that Topper Shutt's hair is starting to take on a reddish hue." Must have found Kim Martucci's Bozo The Clown red dye stash (that's Lurch on the right): www.fredericknewspost.com (3/23/10) Well, it's official, The Baltimore Sun's David Zurawik aka Z on TV just busted a nut... Kate Gosselin is dancing on Dancing With the Stars! HAHA! (3/23/10) Why the f*@! is Mike Moss testifying to the FCC about the blizzard. He coudn't even make it in to work some of the days during that time from what I recall. Memo to Jim Farley: You could have probably saved a lot more money during the blizzard by permanently replacing Moss with someone who has twice as much talent and less smart alecky attitude for half the price. I only listen to the traffic and weather and head back to my iPod as fast as I can during his shift and more likely to listen to the stories afterwards when he's not on the air. (3/23/10) /\ March 23 Messages /\ \/ March 22 Messages \/ So, did you hear who's going to be leasing WMET? And what they're planning to put up? grnonline.info (3/22/10) Hey Dave. Rant here. You let us know a couple of months ago after Haiti not to post politico stuff but today the loudmouths 'can haz' free reign? *crosses arms, taps foot and furrows brow*. (3/22/10) Rusty - With that ponytail...I'd mistake you for my mommy. -TOGS (3/22/10) Noticed on the 7:00 pm Channel 9 news that Topper Shutt's hair is starting to take on a reddish hue. Did Topper buy up all of Bob Ryan's hair dye since Bob couldn't use it all while sitting out on his no-compete? (3/22/10) To the unsigned Rush Limbaugh disciple: Wrong! On March 8th, at 1.55 p.m. he said and this is his exact quote, "If this passes and it's five years from now and all that stuff gets implemented--I am leaving the country. I'll go to Costa Rica." He did not say he would go there just for health care or to see a doctor there, though he would probably enjoy their socialized national health plan. By the way, it's the same socialized health care he got a couple of months ago--in Hawaii. ACH (3/22/10) Hey, Mr. "fix it at the poles in November"...try polls! Maybe Rush will go in half with you on a Spell Check. Your particularly craven take on the successes and/or failures of government programs is way off base. It is a mixed bag at best. I also noticed you omitted the GI Bill, one of the most transformative, and successful programs our nation ever administered. As for the tort reform "straw man" the wing nuts continue to throw up...it is ridiculous, even for the righties to assume they can realize substantial savings when medical malpractice (premiums and awards) account for between 1% and 2% of the annual health care expenditures in the US. Now the health insurance companies...who skim a full 25% off of every dollar you pay in for medical care...now THAT's where the money is. Talk about the proverbial "low hanging fruit". Steer clear of "big boy topics"...just nod and say "Dittos", and hold your AM radio close tonight...it is your last, best defense against knowledge. MW (3/22/10) Nope, sorry, Mr. Loudin... fcc.gov... See? It's DISMISSED (If you click on View Legal Actions & Public Notice Comment, you'll see WAGE is fighting that FCC decision). THAT is the daytime technical application, the others are transfer of control due to ownership changes. :-) (3/22/10) Shawn in DC, you very cleverly argued against ONLY 2 of multiple points. Meanwhile, most medicare fraud is never even caught let alone punished & personal injury lawyers are charging health care costs to insurance companies with reckless abandonment, something else that is never caught or punished. You chose to ignore those 2 points & you're wrong about Massachusetts as well. COSTS & TAXES WENT UP in Massachusetts! You cannot deny that fact. Even MITT ROMNEY refuses to brag about MA anymore & he signed the MA bill! HAha! (3/22/10) Careful "TOGS", I could be your Daddy! R (3/22/10) For those folks who are so offended by Grandy and Andy; all one needs to do is Google “George Bush as Hilter”! Funny I never saw the outrage then. (3/22/10) ACH- obviously you don't listen to Rush, you only listen to Media Matters distortions. he never said he'd be moving to Costa Rica. He'd simply hop on his jet to go there if he needs treatment. Big difference. I also agree with him on one matter: I do wish Obama's policies (NOT the man, but his policies) failure. (3/22/10) "Are you writing a book?" -Yes, Rusty. It'll have nice big print, colorful pictures, and be all about a magical red ponytail! -TOGS (3/22/10) Re; "TOGS". Since you are in fact "JC", I've often wondered. Do your feet get wet when you walk on water? And why are you so afraid of my Internet listener count anyway? I've been on WEBR longer than you and have many listeners that tune in via Cox Cable 37. Yep and "Rap" still is (and always will be) CRAP. As for the Wednesday's Child comment, I retracted and apologized for that posting months ago. You can look it up. With all of your questions. I would simply ask "Are you writing a book?". And if so, kiss my ass and make it a love story! R (3/22/10) Andy Parks compared Obama to Hitler? That's kinda strange because I always thought Glenn Beck always kinda had those charming Hitler like qualities. . Paul (3/22/10) Dave's response: Ahhh, Glenn Beck. Those chubby cheeks, clear complexion, blue eyes, and locks of brownish blonde hair. Attributes any neo-Nazi grandmother in Dusseldorf would be oh so proud of..... RE: A reponse to that idiot attacking the government. [Sure the system needs fixing. But how on earth can you entrust your health, and become dependant] It's spelled "dependent". [The U.S. Post Service was established in 1775. You have had 234 years to get it right and it is broke.] It takes balls to say that something that's been in existence for 234 years has been broken all that time. Everything broken should last so long... [Social Security was established in 1935. You have had 74 years to get it right and it is broke.] My parents' checks are clearing the bank just fine, as did my grandparents' checks. Seems to be working just fine, thanks. [Fannie Mae was established in 1938. You have had 71 years to get it right and it is broke.] Well, yeah, it broke, but it worked great until recently and it's already up on the lift. [$1 trillion of our money is confiscated each year and transferred to "the poor" and they only want more.] Confiscated?!? Life must be lonely in your shack in Idaho, but here in civilization we have these things called "elections". You should try voting for once. [Medicare and Medicaid were established in 1965. You have had 44 years to get it right and they are broke] Then why were all the Republicans up in arms about President Obama taking it away?!? [Freddie Mac was established in 1970. You have had 39 years to get it right and it is broke.] You got me on this one. I have no clue if or how Freddie Mac is broken, so I'll jump on your paranoia bandwagon for this one. BURN 'EM!! Why not complain about the Army and Navy? Aren't they broke? Maybe the Department of Commerce? The IRS? C'mon, tin foil hat guy, you can do better than this! –Jamesonian (3/22/10) [The dirty little secret about healthcare is that costs will never go down without malpractice, tort reform, and medicare fraud reform. . . What we need is stiff criminal penalties for unnecessary medical procedures, fee scamming & the personal injury lawyer industry reigned (sic) in with stiff criminal penalties like JAIL.] Feel free to disagree with Dave and me but at least get your facts straight and don't just parrot Charles Krauthammer. Thus: The health economists and independent legal experts who study the issue, however, don’t believe that’s true. They say that malpractice liability costs are a small fraction of the spiraling costs of the U.S. health care system, and that the medical errors that malpractice liability tries to prevent are themselves a huge cost– both to the injured patients and to the health care system as a whole. “It’s really just a distraction,” said Tom Baker, a professor at the University of Pennsylvania Law School and author of “The Medical Malpractice Myth.” “If you were to eliminate medical malpractice liability, even forgetting the negative consequences that would have for safety, accountability, and responsiveness, maybe we’d be talking about 1.5 percent of health care costs. So we’re not talking about real money. It’s small relative to the out-of-control cost of health care.”Insurance costs about $50-$60 billion a year, Baker estimates. As for what’s often called “defensive medicine,” “there’s really no good study that’s been able to put a number on that,” said Baker.Krauthammer cited a study by the Massachusetts Medical Society that found that five out of six doctors said they ordered additional tests, procedures and referrals to protect themselves from lawsuits. He also relies on a much-criticized study from the libertarian Pacific Research Institute on the civil justice system to conclude that “defensive medicine” wastes more than $200 billion a year.Baker is skeptical, and makes the point that “defensive medicine” is not the same thing as wasteful medicine. “Like defensive driving, some defensive medicine is good,” he said. “To change behavior. When you drill down those studies, you see that what it means is, doctors are more careful with patient records. They spend more time with the patient. They’re more careful to say hello and goodbye to the patient. That’s good.”Other health economists agree that “defensive medicine” is not the main driver of costs, and malpractice liability reform is not a panacea. (Shawn in DC) (3/22/10) Remember in the good old days if someone said something really stupid or extremely offensive on the air, the radio station manager would cut a cart to apologize to listeners, and they would play that tape every hour, throughout the day? Andy Parks compares Obama to Hitler at 8:45 AM today; Chris Plante then affirms it before 9:30 AM. It appears the management of WMAL couldn’t care less who they hurt or offended, and the history they abused. Where is that apology cart, WMAL? (3/22/10) It is possible to get ratings from the webcasting..there is a piece of software called Alter Wind Log Analyzer, install and voila. Just so’s you know. Get out of the sandbox. The site has been reasonably peaceful for a while, so STOP IT ALREADY!! (3/22/10) "Given the choice between government control and private insurance companies control, I'll take the government every time." Sure the system needs fixing. But how on earth can you entrust your health, and become dependant on an institution that has the following track record: The U.S. Post Service was established in 1775. You have had 234 years to get it right and it is broke. Social Security was established in 1935. You have had 74 years to get it right and it is broke. Fannie Mae was established in 1938. You have had 71 years to get it right and it is broke. War on Poverty started in 1964. You have had 45 years to get it right; $1 trillion of our money is confiscated each year and transferred to "the poor" and they only want more. Medicare and Medicaid were established in 1965. You have had 44 years to get it right and they are broke. Freddie Mac was established in 1970. You have had 39 years to get it right and it is broke. The Department of Energy was created in 1977 to lessen our dependence on foreign oil. It has ballooned to 16,000 employees with a budget of $24 billion a year and we import more oil than ever before. You had 32 years to get it right and it is an abysmal failure. Reminds one of the definition of insanity, doing more of the same and expecting different results. Rush is right, the first fix for this disaster is at the poles in November. (3/22/10) really, really NICE ink for Frank Herzog based on today's program... We did a one-hour commercial-free salute today to Frank Herzog, retiring after 41 years in radio and TV. After serving in Vietnam, Frank started at WTOP 41 years ago as a $2-an-hour copyboy. 5 years ago he returned as a news anchor. In between he was the radio voice of the Washington Redksins and the Washington Bullets (now the Wizards) and a TV sports anchor. washingtonpost.com (3/22/10) I double-checked, and, yes, there are two separate actions covering WAGE's quest for 50kW. The permit for this (fcc.gov) application, covering only daytime operations, is still valid and runs to October 2011. The status is GRANTED. The separate application (fcc.gov) for nighttime operations (check Exhibit 12) is the one that Potomac is trying to resurrect with an amendment and petition for reconsideration. Regards, Dave Loudin (3/22/10) Its about time the choke hold Pharmacueticals and Insurance companies have had on us was broken. Of course all the 'better offs' are going to scream,they were all for themselves to begin with why would they be considerate of anyone else now? Republicans like to throw around the term Socialism now after years of shaving our rights away a layer at a time. How did it happen? By big money pushing legislation that has come to define everything we say,eat,wear,drive,buy and work for. This country now resembles the setting for Robocop instead of anything a US citizen born before the 80s ,withOUT a silver spoon,would recognize. Talk Show hosts like to attack any attempt to allow a working man,or woman, more than the lowest quality of life but where are THEY when you're turned away from medical procedures,have your utilities shut off or lose your job because you did not conform to what corporate tyrants demanded of thier 'subjects'??? Lets all allow ourselves to be distracted with 'important' things like Racism or where you're allowed to have a cigarette or what a celebrity did in thier private lives and ignore the real issues just as 'The Haves' orchestrated all along. The New Plantation Owners love it when we help put the noose on our own necks,thats thier idea of Democracy.....the right to starve out anyone not living as they're told. Donnie (3/22/10) Re: Rusty's appearance on "Out of the Past" - I sure am looking forward to this interview. I've always been very curious as to when he came up with his "Wednesday's Child" nickname for another DJ on WEBR, his opinions on "crap" and hip-hop music and "those people", as well as what keeps him going week to week knowing no one is actually tuning in. I think it will be a fantastic episode! -TOGS (3/22/10) CSN and other local outlets can only show so many NCAA highlights in a given time frame. There’s an early game window, late game window for example, until those series of games conclude, you’re not allowed to show highlights. Once it’s concluded, highlights are limited to say--- 2:00 per 30 minute show in CSN’s case… ESPN is a bigtime partner with NCAA and I believe with them carrying the women’s tourney and obviously games throughout the season, they probably have language in their contracts that allows them to air more highlights. (3/22/10) (Disclaimer: Mark Levin is heard weeknights on WINC AM 1400 in Winchester.) Last Friday on Mark's show, a comment was made that Obama's 4pm Saturday afternoon White House meeting with Democratic legislators could be compared to Rev. Jim Jones passing out the Kool-aide. Al McGilvray (3/22/10) I'd like to see how fast those Costa Rican doctors will snap to attention the next time Rush's heart starts beating like a hummingbird on Ecstasy. Been nice knowing you, gasbag... (3/22/10) Yeah John Collings. And W/T/F RU, an arbritron trailblazer? (3/22/10) HEY RUSH: Are you packing your suitcase for that relocation to Costa Rica today, as promised. Thought I'd help--here's a guide to healthcare in Costa Rica-- www.costarica.com. Note that migraine medicine which requires a prescription in this country is over the counter, as, is I'm told, Viagra. P.S. If you get the two-bedroom condo, your little buddy Plante can go with you as houseboy, as I'm sure you don't want to hire a brown-skinned native. ACH (3/22/10) "One of their popular personalities,eight year internet radio veteran Rusty Gibson.." -Popular? That's a joke, right? Averaging zero listeners constitutes being "popular" now? (3/22/10) I am going to go to WMAL’s Health Reform Debate; I can’t wait to hear more Chris and Andy comparing Obama to Hitler! (3/22/10) Dave's response: I hear that Andy will be there in his SS uniform. Oh, you know, I shouldn't keep cracking the jokes. A certain "radio god" called early this morning quite upset with my gay orgy Mailbag joke of yesterday. Yeah, I deleted it. But I thought it was funny. Still do..... Oh, my God, do they have any common sense? Andy Parks and Chris Plante compared Obama to Hitler on the air. What they said was irresponsible and dangerous, and they should be taken off the air. (3/22/10) Stop whining. Obama isn't getting nearly the abuse that Bush did. Name calling is part of the position description. By the way, I do believe Barry has just made himself into a one term president. (3/22/10) Dave, just got this email. FYI. You can put it in the mailbag if you wish. "Insider BREAKING NEWS! Now that the House has passed health care legislation, what happens next? What does it all mean? What can be done? What effect will this have on things like immigration and cap and trade? 630 WMAL’s Fred Grandy, Andy Parks, Chris Plante and moderator Bryan Nehman tackle these questions and a host of others facing your family and our country at our “Free Speech Forum” Saturday, April 10th... 3pm... at the Hyatt Regency – Capitol Hill! This is the ultimate ‘MEETING OF THE MOUTHS.’ See Fred, Andy, Chris and Bryan LIVE ON STAGE for a one-of-a-kind roundtable discussion, with a special time for audience questions. Tickets are FREE, but seating is limited. You must RSVP to attend. Click here to reserve your seat NOW. A special ‘meet and greet’ with free snacks and cash bar follows the big event. Health care reform passes the house. What happens next... happens here!" (3/22/10) It was not just Andy who made the offensive remark. Chris Plante’s first or second caller of the day re-iterated exactly what Andy said. Chris Plante did nothing but giggle like a school girl. Plante invoked the name Hitler at least one time during his show. He said, I am paraphrasing here, if you count the number of abortions, Obama killed more than Hitler. Oh by the way, I am allowed to paraphrase because Paul Duckworth (PD of WMAL) told me “in the theater of talk radio, you are allowed to paint with an awfully wide brush stroke”. That is NOT paraphrasing Mr. Duckworth. That is what he said to me. I am emailing Thompson Creek as we speak. Mark in Annandale (3/22/10) Dave's response: I notice that Geico also sponsors Plante's show. That's my car insurance company. Hello Progressive? 'Big' debut, quite flat. But, it's a sign of the times, right? So, your morning show debuts in Washington DC, within hours of historical legislation in America, and you spend 5 minutes at the end of the show addressing it? Great job, Tigger... (3/22/10) I blame Sean Hannity as well. He lost NY-23 for the Republicans, and now he played a major role in the Republicans losing the healthcare debate. If Sean had focused on real parts of the bill, educated his listeners, provided productive commentary, and talked to real people with knowledge of healthcare (Not Dick Morris, Ann Coulter, and Michelle Maulkin), then we would have a much better bill. But no! Sean poisoned the well by yelling about socialism, Marxism, government take over, death panels, freedom, illegal aliens getting better services, etc. and he forced Republicans to cater to the conservative nutcases that listen to his crap. I knew the Republican Party was in trouble when only 300 people showed up to their anti- healthcare legislation rally last week. At that point, Hannity must have known his crap didn’t stick, and I know many Republicans on the hill were pointing fingers at each other, blaming each other for this Waterloo moment. Perhaps the Republican Party and conservative talk radio will realize Rove-type political tactics and word play don’t work with the American people anymore, and they can begin to be more constructive. I bet it won’t happen, and I can’t wait to hear what Hannity first scripted caller will say, today. (3/22/10) Rusty Gibson on "Out Of The Past" - www.otpshow.com (3/22/10) I totally disagree with Shawn in DC & Dave Hughes... Here's why I want government less involved, not more involved... AIG went under, the profit margins on the insurance companies that President Obama keeps demonizing for milking their patients/customers are quite small compared to many other industries. The dirty little secret about healthcare is that costs will never go down without malpractice, tort reform, and medicare fraud reform. That is what makes the U.S. different from Britain and Canada and other socialized medicine countries, they don't have ambulance chasing lawyers running amuck like we do or all the medicare fraud and malpractice lawsuits or personal injury lawyers that have their own doctors on the payroll to make up phony claims. And that is the reason I was against THIS particular healthcare reform bill, not healthcare reform itself. There is simply nothing in it to control costs and too many sleazy deals and lawyering going on. What we need is stiff criminal penalties for unnecessary medical procedures, fee scamming & the personal injury lawyer industry reigned in with stiff criminal penalties like JAIL. This bill doesn't do ANY of that! But, ooops, aren't at least half of Congress lawyers and some even doctors? DING DING DING! WE HAVE A WINNER! That in a nutshell is why most Americans are against the bill, not because they don't want healthcare reform, simply because they don't see this bill as reform at all! The only leeches here are the politicians & lawyers/doctors lobbying groups, all in the same tent. It's the average joe that will get screwed over again, you bet. Enjoy that $732/month while it lasts Dave and be careful for what you wish for or move to Massachusetts for an expensive preview. (3/22/10) So Dave, since healthcare legislation has passed, are ya gonna help Rush pack for his move to Costa Rica?? (3/22/10) (regarding Dave's response) “Try being self-employed and healthy and paying $732 a month for HMO health coverage! Something's gotta change.” It’s insane that you have to pay nearly $8,800 a year for health insurance! We really should have a Universal Healthcare/Single Payer system in America. In many countries, people pay little or nothing to be taken care of, as the cost of healthcare comes out of revenues, just as police/fire/public safety does - and the price of healthcare in those countries is a fraction of our cost here. The Insurance and Pharmaceutical industries’ profit structures play a large role in this dynamic and the sooner that is changed, the sooner we’ll see the change you’re looking for. It’s absurd that the U.S. doesn’t have a healthcare system for its some 330 million citizens, that is equitable, affordable and effective. And, with such a plan in place, I doubt seriously that your taxes would go up anywhere near $8,800 annually, to pay for your fair share. (3/22/10) re: Quote of the Day; "Hitler is in the White House." Andy Parks, 630 WMAL. -- This will be an important test for WMAL's. If they do not suspend or otherwise take action against Parks for this incredibly offensive remark, then that's proof that WMAL is officially Hate Radio. In that case, responsible members of the Washington community should inform its advertisers that their continued patronage depends on their holding WMAL's management accountable for the foul slanders broadcast on their air. (3/22/10) Whose picking up the truck to help Rush move out of the country? (3/22/10) Does anyone know why Comcast SportsNet doesn't show any highlights from the NCAA mens hoops tournament on its sportscasts (not even the games involving Maryland and Georgetown)? Initially I thought CBS might have acquired exclusive rights to the footage (much like NBC with the Olympics), but that can't be the case since channels 4, 5 and 7 was well as ESPN have been airing it. If you watched CSN's Sports Day earlier today, you'd think Tiger Woods had done just one interview yesterday - with Golf Channel's Kelly Tilghman. Likewise, ESPN and its radio network only mentioned the one he gave to to their guy Tom Rinaldi while making no reference to the chat with Tilghman. Apparently CBS was offered five minutes with Woods as well but didn't consider that sufficient time for its purposes. Mike, Fairfax (3/22/10) Dave Loudin is slightly incorrect, but it is confusing. The original daytime 50kw application for WAGE 1190 did NOT include night time details or engineering specifics for the night time operation of this new WAGE 1190 and specifically stated that another night time amendment/application would be filed to fix that at a later date. But they never did it. So, the FCC gave up on them and DISMISSED the application for failure to complete what they said they would do (it's in the public notes by the way). It's quite clear that the original application STILL does show up as "DISMISSED" even right now. It's possible the FCC will reinstate the original application. It's unclear to me whether they're really going be able to finance all this construction... 2 new towers at the current transmitter site, and a brand new 50,000 watt site with 3 more towers? Sounds pretty darn costly to me and I'm not even sure they've got the zoning approval yet near Dulles. If completed though, at least daytime, WAGE 1190 would arguably be Washington's most powerful AM radio station. (3/22/10) ("Healthcare reform passes! – I’ll never understand why people would champion the idea of more government involvement or control of our lives.") Umm, try getting sick and having no coverage. Try having a pre-existing condition and not being able to get coverage from one of our leeches, oops, insurance companies. Hope sincerely that neither happens to you or your kids. (Shawn in DC) Dave's response: Try being self-employed and healthy and paying $732 a month for HMO health coverage! Something's gotta change. It just can't go on like the past..... A HUGE thanks to my fellow "Mailbaggers"! Yes, the graphic did indeed read. "Meditation (sorry, I was only going from memory) for the piece "Tha''s". And didn't one station close with America's "Lonely People" (with shots ofArmstrong and Aldrin on the moon)? Thanks again - You all are the best, Rusty (3/22/10) RE:"I’ll never understand why people would champion the idea of more government involvement or control of our lives" - Given the choice between government control and private insurance companies control, I'll take the government every time. I've been dealing with health insurance companies for 30 years and cannot imagine how the government could possibly be any more incompetent or inefficient. MW (3/22/10) Quote of the Day; "Hitler is in the White House." Andy Parks, 630 WMAL. Anyone with any knowledge of World War II would find Mr Parks metaphor grotesque, unfounded, and historically and socially illiterate. Andrew Parks needs to apologize to the President for such an atrocious attack. Andy Parks needs to apologize to the listeners for being an ass that spews that type of crap. Anyone with relatives that were hurt/killed/starved/etc. under Hitler's authoritative and social cleansing policies should take real offense at Parks for minimizing and equivocating Hitler's place in history. (3/22/10) Dave's response: I'd like to know how some of WMAL sponsors feel about that, like AT&T, Midas, the National Association Of Realtors, and Chevron. Hmmm..... Dave Big Tigger`s co-host`s are Donela (formerly of BET) and comedian Donell Rawlings formerly of WWPR (New York). Even with WPGC being more profitable than HOT 995 you are correct they still may flip it to AMP or CHR urban does not have as good of a charge rate on commercials as CHR. At the moment there competition is still more so urban WKYS not HOT 995 again in my opinion Big Tigger is a urban DJ it would be interesting to see how he would translate from the black radio format-urban to the white format-CHR AMP. I think that if WPGC get`s into the top 3 in the 18-34 demo and top 5 in the 25-54 demo it might stay urban PPM seems to be demo driven. (3/22/10) Dave: I finally had a chance to read some of this week's postings and I took some time to listen to other sportstalk radio stations on the internet {on I-Tunes etc..}. What a difference in content most out-of-town sportstalk stations make compared to ESPN980. Let me get this straight. They give Galdi his own show and he dedicates time to covering Maryland's trip to the NCAA's. The best analyst or "guest" he can get on his show is Sheehan? Zero effort, zero creativity and zero knowledge of what sportstalk radio listeners want. Don't tell me, Sheehan will probably have Galdi on his Monday show talking about Maryland as well. The staff must really be mailing-it-in and it's starting to show. (3/22/10) Perhaps you can shed some light on a very annoying issue. I live in Loudoun County, "the richest county in the U.S." You would think this type of demographic would be very desirable for any radio station, especially in drive time. The issue I have is that my reception of WMAL is terrible until after 7:00 AM. The reception stays good until about 6:00 PM when it once again it reverts to awful. I'm amazed that during the PM and early AM hours I receive a better signal from WABC in New York than I do WMAL. I have the same issue with WTNT but to a much lesser extent. The GM of WMAL sent me an e-mail a while back saying it was an FTC issue. Do you have any insight into the problem? Thanks. Jim (3/22/10) Dave's response: Most AM stations have different day and night signal patterns. At night, AM signals bounce all over the place and usually a station's night pattern is more restrictive. WMAL sends less wattage to the west, to protect stations in the middle of the country, from sunset to sunrise. Here in Reston, while I do get WMAL pretty good at night, it's still not as strong a signal as during the daylight hours..... Holly Morris was doing a segment on some event called "Grills Gone Wild"..Well, near the end of the segment, she asked the guy the date and time that the "GIRLS" Gone Wild event would occur..She quickly corrected herself, but I think she mistakenly said it again. (3/22/10) To the writer who suggested John Feinstein and Donnie G. as radio partners . . . not a chance in hades. There would NEVER be enough oxygen in the room for those two; it would be like Thunderdome. I seem to recall that WAY back in the day on WTEM, Feinstein occasionally hosted a mid-day show as a sub, and he was always great, but I think John would never want to do that every day. He has too much cash, and too many outside interests, to come into a studio every day for several hours. Sincerely, TMU (3/22/10) “Mike and the boys WILL always be offered free on their daily show. The RAW shows were special pay-per-listen and were fantastic radio. If you’re not offended by all things naughty I urge you to partake. $10.99 for three show. "What a bargain!". Rob—Alabama.” Rob landing in Alabama: warriorlibrarian.com (3/22/10) This is in answer to Rusty Gibson’s question about Channel 9’s signoff. I believe you’re referring to the one that has US Air Force visuals with the poem High Flight: "Oh! I have slipped the surly bonds of earth... And danced the skies on laughter-silvered wings; Sunward I've climbed, and joined the tumbling mirth... Of sun-split clouds - and done a hundred things... You have not dreamed of - wheeled and soared and swung... High in the sunlit silence. Hov'ring there... I've chased the shouting wind along, and flung... My eager craft through footless halls of air. Up, up the long delirious, burning blue, I've topped the windswept heights with easy grace... Where never lark, or even eagle flew - And, while with silent lifting mind I've trod... The high untresspassed sanctity of space, Put out my hand and touched the face of God." Pilot Officer Gillespie Magee... No 412 squadron, RCAF... Killed 11 December 1941... It was put to the music of Eric Satie, “Gymnopédies”. It was the greatest TV signoff of all times, as far as I’m concerned. Videogrape (3/22/10) Healthcare reform passes! – I’ll never understand why people would champion the idea of more government involvement or control of our lives. Their track record is a disaster (Medicare, Medicaid, Social Security all facing insolvency, Katrina, and on). Fine if you want to root against the likes of Rush & Hannity, but growing the entitlement class is going to eventually ruin this country. I’m sure for most of you, that’s not what you really want. I've tried to teach my kids to learn from other's mistakes. The lessons are out there for those who have the courage to take an objective look. Greece and other European countries are finding out now that all of this is not sustainable in the long run. Looks like we're going to drive off the cliff with them. (3/22/10) Re sign-off music: Dave - You being a young NJ/NY/Philly pup, you might recall a time back in the 70s when WABC-TV's "Eyewitness News" used to close its Saturday night newscasts with Leroy Anderson's "Forgotten Dreams" against a video montage of NYC nighttime exterior shots. If you forgot the melody, here's a reminder: www.youtube.com... And if you were a fan of CBS' "Early Movie", this might be equally familiar: www.youtube.com... (3/22/10) An exclusive, extended clip from the documentary EVERY OTHER DAY IS HALLOWEEN with "Count Gore De Vol" reading the obituary for "Captain 20" has been uploaded to the Facebook page this week. The rare clip is from 1987 shortly after "Captain 20" was cancelled after 15 years, and shortly before "Count Gore" would last be seen. Coming out April 20, pre-orders for the DVD of EVERY OTHER DAY IS HALLOWEEN are available now! www.facebook.com (3/22/10) Healthcare reform passes! Bill Goes to the President to sign. From the Stop Hillary Express, Operation Chaos, Save Terri Shiavo, Reverend Wright, ACORN, and now "Obamacare," chalk this one up as another failure of the political "power" of AM talk radio. Way to go Hannity! Perhaps just one more Hannity plant caller saying "Doctors will be too busy treating illegal aliens to take care of Grandma," could have stopped this bill from passing. (3/22/10) Dave's response: Hey, who helped get Obama elected? Rush! It’s good to see at least one conservative face reality. Here’s what David Frum says in a column entitled ‘Waterloo’: “Conservatives and Republicans today suffered their most crushing legislative defeat since the 1960s. It’s hard to exaggerate the magnitude of the disaster. Conservatives may cheer themselves that they’ll compensate for today’s expected vote with a big win in the November 2010 elections. But: (1) It’s a good bet that conservatives are over-optimistic about November – by then the economy will have improved and the immediate goodies in the healthcare bill will be reaching key voting blocs. (2) So what? Legislative majorities come and go. This healthcare bill is forever. A win in November is very poor compensation for this debacle now. So far, I think a lot of conservatives will agree with me. Now comes the hard lesson: A huge part of the blame for today’s disaster attaches to conservatives and Republicans ourselves.” You can read the rest, here ... www.frumforum.com (3/22/10) WTOP-TV used to sign off with the following mellow instrumental from an opera. The scratched up color film showed ocean waves coming ashore. After “Mediation,” a rousing rostrum camera version of The Star-Spangled Banner showed drawings of various scenes from America’s best loved wars. Jules Massenet Meditation from Thaïs. Thaïs (Pronounced tah-eess / ta:'i:s) is an opera in three acts by Jules Massenet to a French libretto by Louis Gallet based on the novel Thaïs by Anatole France. It was first performed at the Opéra Garnier in Paris on 16 March 1894, starring the American soprano Sybil Sanderson, for whom Massenet had written the title role. The work was first performed in Italy at the Teatro Lirico Internazionale in Milan on 17 October 1903 with Lina Cavalieri in the title role and Francesco Maria Bonini as Athanaël. In 1907, the role served as Mary Garden's American debut in New York in the U.S. premiere performance. (3/22/10) I left my home town, The Bronx, listening to the FAN (WFAN) and news for traffic (1010 WINS; Farley listens, and follows, just adds speech impediments.) Anyway, they start doing promos for John Feinstein’s college basketball show. The signal is so good I listen to it all the time in DC where it is better than 980’s! I listen to Yankee games here too all the time with clarity. I guess an antenna on the Empire State Building helps. I remember as a kid when the the Trade Towers were built causing vertical interference on over the air TV signals. Anyway, I have never heard his show before. I always loved his writings. My favorite line of his writing of all time is “Do you know who I am?” (Mr. Toni, in Fiction). His spots on the Junks, Mr. Toni, and the Sports Reporters are some of my best radio all week. His show was really good. Why he is not local, I asked myself? I didn't know. But, as I finally got within a mile of the beltway, YES A MILE, I picked up JFK which ran it too. It was great radio. He was great. He had great guests. Threw in Tiger in basketball show. Although, who ever ran that board at JFK left in too many “WFAN, NY” bumpers in DC. I don’t know if he is too busy but, boy, what a replacement for JT2 he would be. Mr. Toni to Mr. “I pissed off Mr. Toni and Bobby Knight and cursed doing a NAVY game”. Holy shit, what a combo! You know what? Think of Doni and Mr. F. as a combo. “Brilliant radio concept guy with a brainy partner who knows all sports and all things inside the beltway” (Remember Big O and Dukes???) Anyway, my usual, rant went to long. Oh, yeah, can’t wait for that MOS PFV shit! OB (3/22/10) The piece you are speaking of is called "Meditation", not "Inspiration". If you want to see it, just go to YouTube and enter "wdvm sign-off" in the search box. (3/22/10) (regarding a previous post) I don't know the name of the musical interlude that Channel 9 used at sign-off, but this link may contain the piece music and visuals that Rusty Gibson mentioned - plus an interesting slideshow video with the Star Spangled Banner. www.tv-signoffs.com... And here's a recreation of another Channel 9 sign-off, from 1964. www.tv-signoffs.com (3/22/10) I was reading the Post story about gay marriage coverage and I wondered, does The Baltimore Sun even have an ombudsman anymore or did that person get laid off too? LOL And The Sun ran a very pro-gay story today also. Feel free to check out the Comments on the story with all the anti-gay comments... www.baltimoresun.com... It's about all the people in Maryland rushing to DC to get married now that the State Attorney General Doug Gansler has said in a legal opinion that Maryland has a legal obligation to accept gay marriages from other states & DC. Of course, this is the same Attorney General who hasn't even practiced law in Maryland for the Constitutionally required 10 years, but since Maryland is such a corrupt 1 party state, the Maryland court (with judges all appointed by Democrat governors) let him slide in anyway! I actually don't have anything against gay marriage, but isn't it the State Legislature's responsibility to submit legislation for this? Since when does the Attorney General have the right to legislate? The funny thing is both the Governor of Maryland and lots of people in the state legislature support this ruling and are glad it happened, but ONLY because it gives them political cover in the next election & widespread gay support without ever having to take a SINGLE VOTE or SIGN A BILL! HAHA! WEASELS! Only in 1 party corrupt Maryland. And you'll never hear anyone write about that in The Baltimore Sun, but of course it's true. (3/22/10) /\ March 22 Messages /\ Jump to the Mailbag Archive Index.....