I'm in Love, I'm in Love

...and this time it's the real thing!!
(Even though she doesn't know I exist).

She's Andrea Rooz, the traffic reporter on CFRB Toronto's Ted Woloshyn Show.

She is bright and articulate and funny (even the anchors and hosts here in the USA aren't as smart as she is) and - I think - a vegetarian, just like I'm trying to be. She eats Tofurky (an excellent product; yummers)!

Unfortunately, I think she's also married. Darn!
What an impressive [Canadian] woman!!

-M!

Diana

Diana Ross did not have a good day yesterday. While driving in Tucson, she was arrested for extreme DUI.

This must be something like the ill-fated extreme football, extreme soft drinks, extreme everything in our culture these days.

Anyway, wow, how the mighty have fallen. She used to be the big star in showbiz. When was it - just last year? - that her concert tour was cancelled early on for lack of ticket sales???

But the absolute best part of the story for me was this sentence from the AP:
Ross' Los Angeles-based publicist, Paul Bloch, had no immediate comment, his office said.
Now what's he gonna say? Watch him stand in front of the TV cameras with a somber look on his face and report that "Ms. Ross was not under the influence, she just had some heartburn."

What kind of job is this for a sane person? These Hollywood PR goofs who must clean-up after over-coddled, out-of-touch celebrities are the saddest of the species. Once again, y'wonder how they sleep at night.

-M!

It's Very Clear

Clear Channel Communications is a company that owns a lot of radio stations. I'm talkin' a w-h-o-l-e l-o-t of 'em. Like 1200, and that's not a typo. Probably some right near you. They also own TV stations and other stuff.

Used to be, nobody could own that many broadcast properties. There were limits imposed by the government, in fear of a monopoly of properties, ideas, etc. Then the laws were changed. The assumption was that the market and competition would keep broadcasters in line. Instead, everyone does nothing and one company has gobbled up many stations, turning the radio dial all over the USA into the broadcast version of McDonald's. Stations all sound the same, lack much localness, news departments have been eliminated or decimated, playlists are heavily-researched, homogenous, and local talent in any city doesn't stand much of a chance of airplay, regardless of how good or popular they are.

Station managers promote (i.e. kiss-up to) some local charities and order jocks to talk about how much they love the city, then point to those flimsy, transparent actions as evidence of how deeply commited they are to serving the locals...even if most personnel come and go so quickly, they aren't even sure what city they're living in!

I could go on - and it's fun to - but instead, I'll suggest you read more on this from excellent coverage of the matter at Salon.com, the Media Access Project, and the delightful Clear Channel Sucks. You might also want to contact your congressperson.

Radio used to be fun. It's not anymore. It still should be.

-M!