A function of age LIV

When you record a fair amount of radio, not everything you preserve will stand the test of time.  One recording I have from over 20 years ago is labeled, "'Democracy Now'--General Wesley Clark rally."

When I unearthed that recordable CD, I remembered, "Oh, that's right.  General Clark ran for president in 2004."  Respect to him for running--but there's no urgent reason for me to listen to that edition of "Democracy Now" again.

Such is the temporary nature of radio.

Questionable inertia II

I have to remember that I'm under no obligation to leave the radio on the same station I heard during a previous meal.  Otherwise, I end up listening to a not terribly compelling program in which listeners call in and say, "I've got a Dagnabbit brand riding lawn mower for sale.  Two of its tires are missing, and it takes nine attempts on average to start it.  Aside from that, it works pretty well.  I'm asking three thousand dollars for it, and I can be reached at (this phone number.)"

I've spent more breakfasts than I want to admit listening to that program.  So far, I've justified it as an amusing study in human nature, but that excuse is wearing thin.

Persistent earworm alert CDLVI

While working recently, the rhythmic chorus of Neil Diamond's "The Boat That I Row" came to mind early in the shift and stayed there for the duration.  I'm surprised that didn't happen years earlier, as even on its best days, work carries the inevitable feeling of repetitive rowing with it.

FM dial scan highlights CCCXIII

Five recommended tunes heard today:

WSIE 88.7 FM

• Vertical Horizon-Carol Albert (Easy-on-the-ears midtempo smooth jazz piano and guitar.)
• Peculiar Situation-Earl Klugh (A brief mystical intro segues into a steady midtempo jazz guitar groove.  Klugh's career goes all the way back to the '70s, and he's one of the most consistent guitarists I've heard.  I have yet to hear a Klugh track that I dislike.)

KWUR 90.3 FM

• Paris-Feeble Little Horse (A brief, interesting dream pop interlude.)
• Angel-Lizzy McAlpine (As in "Older," there's an endearing sensitivity in McAlpine's lyrics and vocals.  This new track is one of 2026's more heartfelt releases.)

KPNT 105.7 FM

• The Unforgiven-Metallica (As these lyrics illustrate, it's possible to be too much of a conformist.)

Context? CDLXI

This morning, a fill-in radio talk show host read a listener's text on-air that asked, "When is (the show's regular host) coming back?  The show is boring now."

The host responded gracefully, "Tough but fair.  We take all kinds of feedback."

I'd like to think I'd have been equally diplomatic in that situation--but I wouldn't guarantee it.

Context? CDLX

Recently, a radio talk show host read a complaint from a listener, saying that the host allowed someone, most likely a caller, to "bloviate on topics he knows nothing about."

I joined in the host's chuckling when he asked the listener rhetorically, "Are you new to talk radio?"

If one thing is inevitable on talk radio, it's bloviating.

A linguistic irritant XXXVII

It doesn't happen that often, but it irks me just a little when radio personalities refer to their station's commercials as ads.  It's not technically incorrect, but I've always thought of ads as a term for print media and commercials as a term for radio and TV.

Admittedly, I could just as easily have written this extremely minor complaint as one of my "A petty fixation" posts.