Gimme A Ticket For An Aeroplane...

R.I.P. Alex Chilton...

Books: Abe, Bennie, George and the (phony) Protocols

For you pre-McLuhanites out there who still read books, here are a some recommendations: Lincoln's Melancholy, a study of how Honest Abe struggled with depression, and used it to his advantage; Voodoo Histories, an analysis of conspiracy theories; and A Fiery Peace In A Cold War, the bio of Gen. Bernard Schreiber, developer of the "Ultimate Weapon" - the ICBM; ;"last" but not least, Last Words, the George Carlin autobio (get the book on CD version - it's read by Carlin's brother). Enjoy...

The Past and Future of Talk

I continue to be amazed and delighted at some of the lively dialogue I read on Twitter, Facebook, etc. Meanwhile, talk radio continues to bore and disgust me (like those two talentless douchebags I heard tonight on a certain Detroit station) with the same old totally predictable Rush-clone shit. Radio has hit the iceberg and I fear it's already too late to turn it around.

Then again, as an old poly-sci professor of mine once said, "I base all of my hope for the future on the fact that I've always been lousy at predicting it..."

The Question Man

If you want a reasonable idea of where spoken-word radio is headed, check out the All Access "Ten Questions" segment with my consultant pal Holland Cooke...

Jim's Gratuitous Self-Promotion of the Week

Talks are underway to put your humble and loving narrator back on the "air" (i.e. internet), at least on a part-time basis. Cross your fingers and stay tuned...

Death of a DJ

Another passing of significance (well, for me, anyway): George Michael (no relation to the Wham! guy). Among the last of the great night-time DJs of the "Boss Radio" era, George is best remembered in the radio biz for his work at WFIL in Philly. He was also the guy who replaced Cousin Brucie at 77 (Bong) WABC, circa 1974 - and filled Brucie's shoes more than adequately. In recent years, he hosted the Sports Machine on TV. He was 70.

More about King George here...

And Up Yours, Tiny Tim...

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!

There, I've said it - Happy Holidays, not Merry Frickin' Christmas. God forbid we should acknowledge that not everyone is an enlightened Christian like some of you seem to think you are.

So...HAPPY GODDAMN HOLIDAYS. Deal with it...