A Deadly Radio Contest...
KDND in Sacramento (CA), appropriately known as "The End" ran an on-air contest called "Hold Your Wee for a Wii". The person who drank the most water without urinating would win a video game system. Jennifer Lea Strange, a 28-year old mother of three got as far as two gallons of water before dying from what the coroner ruled was "death consistent with water intoxication". Yesterday the station fired all 5 disc jockeys on "The Morning Rave" show along with 5 other employees who took part in the contest. According to a report in the Sacramento Bee, "an audio recording indicates at least one disc jockey knew there was some danger". "Can't you get water poisoning and like die?" Trish of the morning show said about a quarter of an hour into the show...
The Sacramento County Sheriff (John McGinness) said there does not appear to be grounds for a criminal investigation and the FCC said they could not discuss specifics of the incident but come on people, firing station personnel won't bring back Jennifer Lea Strange nor compensate her family will it? This is not the first case of death by radio station contest or promotion, it's happened before. It happened here in New York in 2000 in a Britney Spears promotion in a parking lot. The victim's family lost a civil suit in that case. In 1975, KHJ in Los Angeles called on listeners to track down "The Real Don Steele" driving a red car and giving out cash. A driver died trying to find Steele and his widow won a civil judgment against the station...
Steve Cottingim who runs the 6 CBS Radio stations in Sacramento said contest rules are approved at the corporate level. In one case, serving bratwurst was nixed because lawyers were worried about food poisoning. "That's how strict it is", Cottingim said. Not hardly strict enough Steve. If none of the local or county authorities do anything then it's up to the FCC to step in and here's my message to them: It's not just about censoring radio stations. If a radio station fails to be responsible for holding a promotion, contest or any event that has a danger of injuring or killing someone, as in this case, then what you need to do if fine the damn station a hefty sum in the millions and award the money to the family of Jennifer Lea Strange so that her three daughters never want for anything the rest of their lives. That's the least you can do...
Our video link of the day is the #1 hit on this date in 1974, "Show and Tell" by Al Wilson: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r4pOF-AopkY&mode=related&search=
Timeline Memories...
"Happy Trails": 1970] Billy Stewart and 3 band members are killed when their car goes out of control and off a bridge in North Carolina. Stewart was 32...
"Beetlemania": 1949] America welcomes the 1st VW Beetle to our shores. VW is now 20% owned by Porsche...
"A Penney for your thoughts": 1913] All 36 Golden Rule stores in Utah are consolidated into one company. The new corporation will be called The J.C. Penney Company...
The Joke's on us: 1916] The Professional Golfers Association (PGA) is formed in New York City and about 5 gazillion un-funny golf jokes are hatched...
Ultimate Spinach: 1929] Popeye makes his 1st appearance in the comic strip "Thimble Theater"...
Released on this date: 1969] Led Zeppelin's self-titled debut album...
#1 on this date: 1964] "There! I've Said It Again" - Bobby Vinton (it's considered the last #1 song before the British Invasion. In 4 weeks, The Beatles replace Vinton at the top of the charts with "I Want To Hold Your Hand")...1974] "Show and Tell" - Al Wilson...1984] "Owner of a Lonely Heart" - Yes...
"I Get a Kick Out Of You": 1971] The Colts' Jim O'Brien boots a 32-yard field goal with 5 seconds left to give Baltimore a win over Dallas 16-13 in Super Bowl V (considered the sloppiest SB of all with a record 11 turnovers)...
The Final Curtain: 1977] Convicted murderer Gary Gilmore, 36, is shot by a firing squad at Utah State Prison in the 1st U.S. execution in a decade...
The Supremes Rule: 1984] The U.S. Supreme Court rules 5-4 to allow private use of home video cassette recorders to tape TV shows (YES!!!)...
"Going To Hall": 1990] Bobby Darin, The Who, Simon & Garfunkel, 4 Seasons, 4 Tops, Hank Ballard, Platters & Kinks are all inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame...
Rock and Roll: 1994] The Northridge (CA) earthquake rocks Los Angeles, registering a 6.7 on the Richter Scale. At least 61 are killed with damage estimated at $20 billion...1995] A magnitude 7.2 earthquake devastates the city of Kobe, Japan with more than 6,000 killed...
"Apple Turnover": 1999] Up by 10 points early in the game, the Jets commit 6 turnovers, including 4 fumbles and lose the AFC championship game to Denver 23-10 at Mile High Stadium (the closest to the Super Bowl Bill Parcells will get in his 3 seasons as coach of the Jets)...
[To ensure accuracy of dates and content, multiple reference sources are used in each timeline]...
Commentary...
I hate those e-mails with all those cute throw-back memories in an attempt to make people feel older than they really are. That would include what prices were, our favorite TV shows, slang, etc. etc. There might be a clue there if you're thinking of sending me one. I just delete them right away so if you're thinking of sending me one, forget it. And now comes the "But". But Muhammad Ali turns 65 today. Whatever you think of Ali, you immediately picture this self-assured and special champion who could "float like a butterfly and sting like a bee". 65 today but his face is distorted by Parkinson's making him look older. His voice is a whisper and he communicates mostly with facial expressions. He tires easily although his mind remains sharp and clear and his passion for people hasn't faded with age. But don't feel sorry for "The Champ" says daughter Hana. "People naturally are going to be sad to see the effects of his disease but if they could really see him in the calm of his everyday life, they would not be sorry for him. He's at complete peace and he's here learning a greater lesson". Happy Birthday Champ...
"Happy Birthday...happy birthday":
Kid Rock (36), Jim Carrey (45), Susanna (The Bangles) Hoff (48), Paul ("Everytime You Go Away") Young (51), Muhammad Ali (65), Maury Povich (68), James Earl Jones (76), Eartha Kitt (80) and Betty White (85)...
Timeline Countdown: 4 days until NFL Conference playoffs, 18 days until Super Bowl XLI and 29 days until 'pitchers and catchers'...
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