Thursday, June 28, 2007

Thursday, June 28, 2007

Internet Radio "Day of Silence" worked...

Dave Van Dyke's Bridge Ratings show that more than half of Internet Radio listeners didn't like the static or sounds of silence they heard on Tuesday's 'Day of Silence'. Well, that percentage is kind of misleading because almost three quarters or 72% of those listeners went to other stations that were streaming while 23% didn't listen to Internet Radio at all that day. We don't know what those people listened to, if anything at all or where the other 5% went. Maybe they just went about their business and didn't listen to or watch anything. You know it is good to do that once in a while people...

The other startling statistic I found was that only 21% of the 3,000 people (13+) measured normally listen to Internet Radio. That's only one quarter of the listening audience but it is up from 19% earlier in the year...

Most people follow a routine based on how they occupy the time spent during their typical day. I listen to WEBE 108 in Connecticut because it reminds me of what a good top 40 station used to sound like. They play a good variety of music: oldies, some currents and re-currents, have personable disc jockeys that are easy to listen to and run fun promotions that are entertaining but not obtrusive. How I get their signal as well as I do is a mystery but then the East River is just a block away so the station probably skips over the water - something I learned from a very limited engineering 101 lesson I picked up somewhere...

There are times during my day at the computer that I listen to just my thoughts and I find that refreshing. The percentage of people who do that is probably very low but try it some time. I highly recommend it...

10 Timeline Memories:
  1. 1914] WWI: Austrian Archduke Francis Ferdinand and his wife Sofia did not have a good day - they were assassinated in Sarajevo by a Serb nationalist, causing World War I...1919] 5 years to the day it started, WWI ends with the signing of the Treaty of Versailles in France...
  2. 1917] Debuted on this date: Raggedy Ann is born 90 years ago today. Happy Birthday R.A...1942] The Dumont TV Network signs on, on flagship station WABD (channel 5) in New York...1951] Two brilliant years of TV comedy begin as "Amos 'n Andy" moves from radio to (CBS-TV) television and as a special treat here's a 9-minute clip of the episode called "Calhoun To The Rescue": http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G9ZoRDvUfhE ...
  3. 1949] Gee it's great to be back home again: The last U.S. combat troops are called home from Korea with just 500 'advisers' left...1950] North Korea forces capture Seoul, Korea (what did you expect?)...
  4. 1957] Diamond Dust: After Cincinnati Reds fans stuff the All-Star game ballot boxes, Commissioner Ford Frick removes the underachieving George Crowe, Gus Bell and Wally Post (all Reds) from the NL team and replaces them with Stan Musial, Willie Mays and Hank Aaron. This is the best argument for managers and coaches to pick the teams, not the fans as they do now...1971] Rick Wise of the Phillies not only pitches a no-hitter against the Reds, he hits 2 home runs...1984] Dwight "Dewey" Evans hits for the cycle (double, triple, single, home run) in a 9-6 win for the Red Sox over Seattle (a team they can't beat these days)...
  5. 1971] Supes on: The Supreme Court overturns the draft evasion charges against Muhammad Ali by unanimous (8-0) vote...
  6. 1975] "Happy Trails": Rod Serling dies after open-heart surgery at 50. I met Serling at LAX airport in the early 70s and he told me he sold all his rights to "The Twilight Zone" for $ 1,000,000. He was then working on "Night Gallery". We started talking about radio, which is where he started in upstate New York, the only thing I had in common with the man although I didn't start in NY. Several months later there was a NG episode about a local disc jockey (played by Mickey Rooney) who sold his soul to the devil. I always wondered whether our conversation triggered something in him to write that episode. I like to think it did...
  7. 1976] I am woman, hear me roar: Women enter the U.S. Air Force Academy...1996] 20 years to the date later, The Citadel votes to admit women, ending a 153-year "men only" policy...
  8. 1997] A bite to the finish: Mike Tyson takes a bite out of Evander Holyfield's ear and is disqualified during their heavyweight championship rematch. Here's a video clip of the live coverage: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ctjWtmT52_U ...
  9. 2000] Back to Cuba: Elian Gonzalez returns to his native Cuba with his father 7 months after he was cast adrift in the Florida Straits on a journey to Florida...
  10. 2004] Ties renewed: The U.S. resumes direct diplomatic ties with Libya after a 24-year break with Daffy Khadafy...

Music Memories:

  • 1964] #1 on this date: "I Get Around" - Beach Boys (this was their 1st #1 hit. Their next one will have to wait until "Kokomo" in 1998)...1977] "Gonna Fly Now (from the movie 'Rocky')" - Bill Conti. Listen to the theme and watch video clips of the movie: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8RwBhNdu2B4&mode=related&search= ...

[To ensure accuracy of dates and content, multiple reference sources are used in each timeline]...

Commentary...

"Happy Trails" to fashion designer Liz Claiborne who died at 78 yesterday after battling cancer for several years. Claiborne was often called "the working woman's best friend" because she catered to the masses with her styles...ESPN Radio noted this morning that the once great and legendary history of the Boston Celtics has been so tarnished by their play and poor management decisions in recent years that few free agents want to be traded there. Let's hope they use their draft pick wisely today to help restore Celtic Pride...

"Happy Birthday...happy birthday":

Former "AI" contestant Kellie Pickler (21), Gil ("Ally McBeal") Bellows (40), Mary Stuart Masterson (41), John Cusack (41), NFL Hall of Famer John Elway (47), Kathy Bates (59) and Mel Brooks (81)...

Timeline Countdown: 6 days until July 4th and 12 days until the All-Star game...

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