The Top Ten Most Annoying Asshole Anchors

Guess who is number one? Our buddy Bill.
From Giant.

Twenty Thousand Hits!

Thirty years ago, twenty thousand hits meant something a bit different...Who's reading this crap? Whoever it is, thanks.

In Praise of....Rare Earth

When my brother came back from Vietnam in 1970, he returned with a whole new form of listening to music...cassettes. I knew they were around but until he returned, I didn't know you could get prerecorded versions of my favorite albums on them. Wow! One of the cassettes he brough back was "Ecology" by Rare Earth. Now, I had been exposed to these guys by what was played on the radio, but to hear a ten minute version of "I Know I'm Losing You" blew this 14 year old's mind.

The first concert I ever saw was Rare Earth, Sugarloaf and Flo & Eddie at the Rock Island Armory where the sound bounced around four times before it landed in your ears. I didn't care. I saw them perform agian at the Uptown Theatre in Kansas City in 1981 with all the original members and it was one of the best shows I have ever seen. Note for note and downright as close to perfect as I have witnessed, still to this day. I also liked them because the drummer sang.

With that in mind, my top five favorite Rare Earth songs....

1. "I Just Want To Celebrate" summer of 1971, this was the best song on the radio.
2. "Hey Big Brother" as funky as you want to be and a fortelling of the future.
3. "I Know I'm Losing You" it has to be the 10 minute version, though. Incredible!
4. "Born To Wander" I remember hearing this on the drive home from playing basketball all over the midwest on WLS.
5. "Any Man Can Be Fool" obscure song from "One World"
...oh yeah and the 20 minute live version of "Get Ready" rocks, too.

Postscript How sick am I? I got on line to my favorite CD clearinghouse www.gemm.com and found a copy of "One World" on CD in Germany. Yeah, I ordered it. What a clown.

T. O. Tries To Off Himself?

From Yahoo sports.

You're fucking kidding me, right? Can he make his mortgage payment with that $25 million dollar salary? Can he afford to send his kid to college? Does he not have a job? Doesn't he have health insurance? Isn't his biggest worry how to spend all those millions? Fuck you, Mr. T.O. Try living in the real world you over hyped, over paid baby prick. Spare me.

The Ghost of Gene Mauch

Are the Cardinals done? Finished? Kaput? Will this team go down in history as one of the biggest choke jobs ever? It seems that the ghost of Gene Mauch resides in the St. Louis clubhouse. Gene Mauch was by all accounts a great guy and a super manager but in the 1964 season he managed to lose the pennant with the Phillies after being up by 12 games with about a month to go. The team that won? The Cardinals. I say that the team should have hung unto Reggie Sanders and Mark Grudzelanek. The Cardinals were seven games up with two weeks to play and now the lead is 1 1/2 games. The curse of greed, the new stadium, the new station and skin flint owners has now caught up with them. I certainly don't feel as passionate about the team as I used to. The new owners seem to be wrecking the history of the team by bulldozing the stadium, KMOX and being about the $$ instead of being about baseball. Just my take but I think this team is done. The Cardinals have now lost seven games in a row at the worst possible time.

Steven Tyler HAD Hep C

Steven Tyler has apparently been living on the edge more than he previously let on.
In an interview with Access Hollywood set to air Tuesday night, Aerosmith's sinewy singer reveals that he has quietly been battling hepatitis C, a blood-borne infection that can potentially lead to fatal liver damage, including cirrhosis or liver cancer.
Per the New York Daily News, the 58-year-old Tyler tells host Nancy O'Dell that he was diagnosed three years ago but had contracted hepatitis C several years earlier without manifesting any symptoms. He subsequently endured a year's worth of pills and injections containing the antiviral drug interferon.
"I've been pretty quiet about this," Tyler says, adding that his physician recommended he undergo the strict interferon regiment three years ago when the group took a break. "You know, it really hurt. It was a bad, bad period." Now, though, the frontman says he's back in the saddle, health-wise. "It is nonexistent in my bloodstream...where it's like a complete cure," says Tyler.
The virus is often transmitted through dirty needles and typically affects addicts in high numbers. While there is no vaccine or known cure, hepatitis C can be controlled and even reduced in the bloodstream by powerful antiviral drugs such as interferon that strengthen the immune system. No word on whether the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame vocalist will discuss how he contracted hepatitis C , but he has long history of drug abuse. Back in the late 1970s, he and Aerosmith guitarist Joe Perry were known as the Toxic Twins for their heavy consumption of drugs, including heroin. Their addictions got so bad the Boston band nearly took a permanent vacation from the rock scene two decades ago. But the group's masterminds cleaned themselves up and launched a hugely successful comeback in the late '80s. Tyler also admits that his health crisis and subsequent treatment put a big strain on his 17-year marriage to fashion designer Teresa Barrick. "I had a little problem at home, to say the least," the "Cryin' " crooner says on Access. "I would run upstairs at night, you know, to put the kids asleep and wake up at 3 in the morning with a nosebleed--you know, just passed out from the interferon, the treatment. It's a shot and pills and all of that. But the good news is I stood the test of time." The couple, who have two teenage children, ended up divorcing last year. Tyler tells Access he plans to talk more openly about his struggle with hepatitis C in the future to raise public awareness. "Hepatitis C is the one that, of all the people in this room, at least three have it and don't know it," he says. "It's the silent killer. I may go on Oprah and talk about this. I hope you don't mind me mentioning that." The musician joins an estimated 4.5 million Americans who suffer from hepatitis C, including fellow celebs Pamela Anderson, Naomi Judd and Larry Hagman.

Randy's take Interferon and riboviran will fuck you up. I mean it, the cure for Hep C is much worse than the disease itself. You can ask my family, they'll tell you what a monster that stuff will turn you into. Depression, dementia and whole bunch of other nice things will ensue. I thought about killing myself a number of times and had to go to the grocery store just to be around people so I wouldn't slit my throat alone at home. I applaud Mr. Tyler for being real about this. You can also get it from dirty blood, too. I, like him, am cured.

Raymond "Boz" Burrell R.I.P.

Boz Burrell passed away yesterday. For those who don't know who he was, along with Simon Kirke, Boz laid down some of the finest bottom end for Bad Company. Boz was the bass player and he played it very well. His first rise to prominence was in King Crimson and then he was recruited to play bass in BadCo. Bad Company was one of my favorite bands. He was 60 and died of a heart attack. Here's his story.

Drew Dimmel

Drew Dimmel is one of the coolest guys I know. I met Drew back in 1979 when he was the weather guy at Channel 9 in Kansas City. He had a set of pipes on him that was a gift from God. Good looking guy and a nice cat, too. Imagine my shock and disbelief when I saw him in an ad for Stem Cell Research. Drew has Parkinsons disease and apparently it's got a hold on him. I actually shed a tear when I saw it.

He doesn't desreve this. No one does. I try not to be too political on this blog but this amendment needs to be passed. Godspeed, Drew Dimmel.

For My Radio Friends

Top row left to right: Tommy Edwards, Larry Lujack, Brant Miller.
Bottom Row left to right: Jeff Davis, Turi Ryder, Fred Winston
WLS circa 1984

You were in radio before 1970 if you...

Remember Joe Pyne and "Mooo-tual News!"
Threw away the transcription disk players to put in Tapecaster cart machines.
Can name the Conelrad frequencies...or even remember what Conelrad was.
Worked at a campus radio station that used carrier current transmission...on AM.
Managed to pass your "third phone" and took meter readings every thirty minutes during your on-air shift...or at least faked them.
Think Wolfman Jack or Clint Eastwood in "Play Misty for Me" is the greatest jock of all time.
Can name the first record you played by Elvis or The Beatles.
Wouldn't put a song on the air if it had "damn" or "hell" in the lyrics.
Got your start in the biz doing anything that had to be done at a daytime AM in Bum****, Egypt.
Bleeped out spots for Martini and Rossi vermouth during network newscasts because the station was located in a "dry" county.
Had an opening and closing theme song for your show.
Know what Don Imus did before WFAN and CNBC.
Carried a rate card with only two prices...one for thirties, one for sixties.
Got your first real job in radio on a classical music FM with a total audience of six people.
Know who Arthur Godfrey was...and probably ran board for his show somewhere.
Worked at a station where somebody who got fired loosened the bolts on the tower guy wires.
Scratched up tracks on an LP or a "B" side with a screwdriver so your jocks couldn't "accidentally" play them on the air.
Quoted ratings from Pulse and Hooper.
Stopped "spinnin' the hits" to join CBS News at the top of the hour.
Worked at a station where the weekend guy was always named Johnny Holiday and the night jock was named Dan Dark so the jingles didn't have to be changed when they ultimately got canned.
Got your on-air "chops" practicing in the production room after midnight.
Brought records from home to play on your show.
Got "hot-lined" by the owner...or the owner's wife.
Ever tried to hoist your station banner to the top of the competitor's tower.
Sent an aircheck to a prospective employer on reel-to-reel tape.
Had a show on the air that didn't fit the station's format at all...just because some sponsor had been buying that slot for years.
Air-checked your show on the big Ampex in the production room.
Tried to look up your old on-air staff and found some of them selling spots for the competition.

You were in radio before 1980 if you...

Ever had a client tell you that rock or country music would never make it on FM...and had an owner or GM who agreed.
Did a promotion to give away FM car-radio converters.
Put a quarter on a tone arm so it wouldn't jump off a warped demo 45 you just had to play...and it was the only copy the station got.
Could remember the intro time and the color of the record label on every song you played...but couldn't recite any of the lyrics except the first and last lines.
Know what PAMS were.
Ever sped up the turntable to get more songs in during an hour and to make the competition sound "draggy."
Worked at a campus radio station that was on FM but ran less than ten watts of power.
Started a 45 at 33 1/3 or vice versa...and didn't notice because you were on the phone with a listener of the opposite sex.
Air-checked your show on a boombox beneath the console.
Ever interviewed an artist on the air who was too stoned to be coherent.
Wouldn't put a song on the air that had any of George Carlin's famous words in it...but pretty much anything else went.
Sent an aircheck to a prospective employer on a cassette swiped from the sales office or newsroom.
Worked at a station that had a newsroom!
Can remember the first record you played by The Doors or Janis Joplin or the Allman Brothers.
Got your start in the biz running preacher tapes on Sunday morning.
Think either Scott Shannon or that guy in the movie "FM" is the greatest jock of all time.
Accidentally let a listener say something obscene on the air because you didn't really have a delay.
Got your on-air "chops" doing a 3 AM-to-5:30 AM shift for minimum wage.
Worked at a station where somebody got fired and, on his way out, ran a magnet up and down the commercial-cart rack.
Got "hot-lined" by the PD.
Had a customized jingle with your name in it.
Once pretended to (or maybe really did) smoke a joint on the air.
Got your first real job in radio...doing mid-days on an AM easy-listening station with a total audience of six folks.
Took a trip to a "showcase" at record company expense and never actually got around to hearing the label's act perform.
Worked the overnight shift and had to wake up the morning guy (who was sleeping off a bender on the lobby couch) so he could do his show.
Arranged to meet people of the opposite sex that you talked to on the request line, but some place where you could see them before they could see you.
Did a remote with a mic amp and a pair of alligator clips connected to the telephone mouthpiece.
Included the words "FM Stereo" as part of your legal ID.
Watched your music director put colored dots on each record shuck to tell you which category they belonged in.
Never worked for a station that was not actually licensed to the city where the studio was located.
Paid money for air checks of Don Imus, Don Steele, Cousin Brucie, Laryy Lujack, Fred Winston or other big market jocks so you could emulate their style.
Assumed that syndication meant "King Biscuit Flower Hour" and "Earth News."
Tried to look up your old on-air staff and found them working for an FM station somewhere.

Cool Pictures From The Shuttle

A very clear night over North America


The Swiss Alps.

Breathtaking!!!

Newsflash for Neil Young fans

Neil Young is finally ready to roll out releases from his long-rumored "Archives Performance" series. First up is "Live at the Fillmore East 1970," due Nov. 14 via Reprise. The album features six as-yet-unannounced selections from Crazy Horse's March 6-7 runs at the New York venue, at a time when late guitarist Danny Whitten was still a member of the band.

"Fillmore" will also be available in a CD/DVD edition featuring a high-resolution audio mix, photos from the show, Young's handwritten song lyrics and press articles from the era.

In addition to core members Whitten, Billy Talbot (bass) and Ralph Molina (drums), the four shows found Crazy Horse augmented by producer Jack Nitzsche on electric piano. Among the songs featured in the set lists were "On the Way Home," " Broken Arrow ," "Cinnamon Girl," "Cowgirl in the Sand" and "Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere."

Manlaws

1: Under no circumstances may two men share an umbrella.

2: It is OK for a man to cry ONLY under the following circumstances:
(a) When a heroic dog dies to save its master.
(b) The moment Angelina Jolie starts unbuttoning her blouse.
(c) After wrecking your boss's car.
(d) One hour, 12 minutes, 37 seconds into "The Crying Game".
(e) When she is using her teeth.

3: Any Man who brings a camera to a bachelor party may be legally killed and Eaten by his buddies.

4: Unless he murdered someone in your family, you must bail a friend out of jail within 12 hours.

5: If you've known a guy for more than 24 hours, his sister is off limits
forever unless you actually marry her.

6: Moaning about the brand of free beer in a buddy's fridge is forbidden.
However, complain at will if the temperature is unsuitable.

7: No man shall ever be required to buy a birthday present for another man. In fact, even remembering your buddy's birthday is strictly optional.
At that point, you must celebrate at a strip bar of the birthday boy's choice.

8: On a road trip, the strongest bladder determines pit stops, not the
weakest.

9: When stumbling upon other guys watching a sporting event, you may ask
The score of the game in progress, but you may never ask who's playing.

10: It is permissible to drink a fruity alcohol drink only when you're
sunning on a tropical beach... and it's delivered by a topless model and
only when it's free.

11: Unless you're in prison, never fight naked.

12: Friends don't let friends wear Speedos. Ever. Issue closed.

13: If a man's fly is down, that's his problem. You didn't see anything.

14: Women who claim they "love to watch sports" must be treated as spies until they demonstrate knowledg e of the game and the ability to drink as much as the other sports watchers.

15: A man in the company of a hot, suggestively dressed woman must remain sober enough to fight.

16: Never hesitate to reach for the last beer or the last slice of pizza, but not both, that's just greedy.

17: If you compliment a guy on his six-pack, you'd better be talking about his choice of beer.

18: Never join your girlfriend or wife in discussing a friend of yours, except if she's withholding sex pending your response.

19: Phrases that may NOT be uttered to another man while lifting weights:
a) Yeah, Baby, Push it!
b) C'mon, give me one more! Harder!
c) Another set, and we can hit the showers!

20: Never talk to a man in a bathroom unless you are on equal footing:
i.e., both urinating, both waiting in line, etc. For all other situations,
an almost imperceptible nod is all the conversation you need.

21 : Never allow a telephone conversation with a woman to go on longer than you are able to have sex with her. Keep a stopwatch by the phone. Hang
up if necessary.

22: The morning after you and a girl who was formerly "just a friend" have
carnal, drunken monkey sex, the fact that you're feeling weird and guilty
Is no reason for you not to nail each other again before the discussion
occurs about what a big mistake it was.

23: It is acceptable for you to drive her car. It is not acceptable for her to drive yours.

24: Thou shalt not buy a car in the colors of brown, pink, lime green, or
orange.

25: The girl who replies to the question "What do you want for Christmas?"
with "If you loved me, you'd know what I want!" gets an Xbox. End of story.

26: There is no reason for guys to watch Ice Skating or Men's Gymnastics.
Ever.

We've all heard about people having guts or balls. But do you really know
the difference between them? In an effort to keep you informed, the
definition of each is listed below:

"GUTS" is arriving home late after a night out with the guys, being assaulted by your wife with a broom, and having the guts to say, "are you still cleaning or are you flying somewhere?"


"BALLS" is coming home late after a night out with the guys smelling of
perfume and beer, lipstick on your collar, slapping your wife on the butt
and having the balls to say, "You're next!"

We hope this clears up any confusion,
The International Council of Manlaws, Ltd.

Clean Bill Of Health

Never have four words sounded so sweet. Thank you for all you prayers and karma. Until the next thing comes along...

Also On This Day...

Steve Goodman died in 1984. How weird that I found a picture of him and Jim Croce in the same article. My blog on him is from here...

The Ten Dirtiest Names in Sport

Uh, yeah, these guys made the list.

33 Years Ago Today...

Jim Croce died along with his guitar player Maury Muehleisen. I know exactly where I was when I heard the news. I was working at the Owens gas station on 10th Ave in East Moline when the man came on the radio and told me he died in a plane crash. It was a day much like this one. Clear,a bit cool and crisp. Man, I really liked that guy. In every interview I ever saw, in every song I ever heard, I thought he was the real deal. Great lyrics, wonderful songs, great family man and a guy I really miss. His biggest song was released after his death "Time In A Bottle". I still think it's one of the greatest songs ever. And what would "Oldies Radio" be without "Bad Bad Leroy Brown" and "You Don't Mess Around With Jim"?
Here are some of my other favorites...
"And I Remember Her"
Which Way Are You Goin?
Tomorrow's Gonna Be A Better Day,
Photographs And Memories
Operator(this song used to tear me up, what an incredible piece of music)
It Doesn't Have to Be This Way
Alabama Rain
I'll Have To Say A Love You In A Song
I Got A Name(my favorite song of his)
The Hard Way Every Time
Workin At The Car Wash Blues
Godspeed, Jim Croce. Another guy I want to shake hands with if I ever get to heaven.
Born: January 10, 1943 - Philadelphia, PA
Died: September 20, 1973 - Natchitoches, LA
February 19, 1974 - Favorite Male Artist - Pop/Rock
American Music Awards (Posthumous)
May 30, 1990 - Inducted into Songwriters Hall Of Fame

The official Jim Croce website

Foir My Friends Tuirning 50...

To all of my friends that have hit the big 50 or are about to..

Perhaps it is the approaching autumn or maybe just the mind set of middle age. But these days when I drive around, I often find myself looking in the rear-view mirror. I think that's why I occasionally lose my way.
But the view to the back seems so much more pleasant than what's coming at me through the windshield. I figure looking back is worth the occasional detour it causes.
In my rear-view mirror, I might see my now-grown daughters as little kids, circa 1986, strapped in their car seats. I might see my wife in, say, 1979 sticking out her lip at me, pouting and making a face because I asked her to sit in the back seat so my best friend could sit up front with me.
In the rear-view mirror, I can see my sons as little boys, covered in grass stains and dirt, singing along with Arlo Guthrie on "Alice's Restaurant" coming home from the annual family Thanksgiving football game.
There's my father-in-law back there, doing some serious back-seat driving; my son-in-law as I brought him home from basic training; my dad teaching me, the 16-year-old, how to drive.
In my rear-view mirror, with some extra effort, I can see myself at 35, speeding down the interstate through the mountains towards Florida, smoking a cigar at full-moon midnight, listening to Credence on the tape deck while all around me my family sleeps, dreaming of DisneyWorld.
I take comfort from what has happened behind me, the rear-view mirror version of my life. Although my perspective of my life ahead changes with every passing mile, the road behind me is set, fixed in history. The fact that I cannot change it is reassuring. I know took a wrong turn here and there, but I also know I always followed the path that I thought best at the time. That's all I could do. I'm happy with how things have turned out so far. It has been a nice drive.
What is up ahead, what I see through the windshield, is not nearly so comforting. The road is not familiar. It's not clearly marked. It twists and turns. There always seems to be some kind of bad weather on the horizon, and I'm definitely not happy about that red "Check Engine" light on the dash. The sun's setting, and I'll need headlights. I'm not confident I can navigate this road.
And by the way, where am I headed anyway?
When I started on this trip, I never looked in the rear-view mirror. The road seemed straight, the sun was shining and the windshield was clean. The few turns in the road were marked, and there always were helpful people to give me directions when I got lost. I didn't know where I was going, but I didn't care. Pedal to the metal, brother, and get out of the way.
But now the car's got some miles on it. The windshield's dirty, and the glare from the headlights of oncoming traffic is a killer. Who wouldn't prefer looking out the back?
And yet, comforting as it may be, I realize it's impossible to drive if all I do is look in the rear-view mirror. I realize that, in the last few miles, if I hadn't been looking behind, I could have avoided a few potholes. And other drivers are starting to ask me for guidance, and they're getting impatient. I don't want to let them down.
I've got a granddaughter, whose name will be Grace, due to arrive in November. No matter the distance or the grime on the windshield; I can see her absolutely clearly. She'll be in back, strapped into a car seat in, say, 2009, out for an ice cream with her grandpa.
Not a bad view. A saving Grace.
Thank you so very much.....

My All Time Raley Baseball Team

Baseball goes back a long time in my family. My mother and father honeymooned at Sportsmen's Park in the forties. Cardinal fans, all of them. I remember days and nights pent on the farm, holding on to the AM radio, providing an antenna to pick up KMOX. One of my favorite memories is taking a road trip with my uncle Dick and discussing the finer points of baseball while looking at my 1967 Cardinal yearbook when I was about 13. Since the entries of this blog have been a bit maudlin lately, I thought I would put together my top five baseball guys.

Number one Bob Gibson

The baddest mofo to take the pitcher's mound. I always wanted to do radio like he pitched. No prisoners and if you diss me, I will knock you down. I wonder how many times he would have plunked guys like Barry Bonds. No question that this guy is my all time favorite and I don't imagine a scenario where he wouldn't be. I drove from the Quad Cities to Busch Stadium in 1975 because it was "Bob Gibson" day. They gave him an RV. I couldn't belive there were seats left.

Number twoRoberto Clemente

To me, Roberto Clemente was a man's man. He was tough as nails on the diamond and no one ran faster than he did going from first to third. Charlie Hustle before Pete Rose copped the nick name. He died in a plane crash delivering medical supplies to earthquake victims in Nicaragua on New Years eve. He had just gotten his 3,000th hit. If I go to heaven, he's the first guy I want to meet (after Jesus, of course).

Number threeGeorge Brett

The greatest hitter I have ever seen. I remember in 1984 when my sister and her family came to KC, we were all at the game and I said to her "wouldn't it be great if he hit one out?" 20 seconds later he did just that. I remember being at the game in 1980 where he stood on second base arms pumped becasue he had just sent his average over the .400 mark in September. I drove to Cooperstown in New York to see George Brett inducted into the baseball Hall of Fame. He is Royals baseball.

Number FourNolan Ryan

Robert DeNiro, and Al Pacino all rolled into one baseball player. This is my favorite picture of him. He hit Robin Ventura with a pitch and Robin charged the mound. Oops. Big mistake. Nolan grabbed him in a headlock and procede to punch the hell out of him. 7 no hitters. All time strikeout leader. First player to make a million bucks in a year. Bad ass dude. He was inducted in the HOF the same year as George Brett. Excellent speech.

Number fiveOrlando Cepeda

"Cha-Cha". The 1967 Cardinals are still my favorite team. I still can recite the starting lineup by position and wnere they batted. This guy was the catalyst and the man. He arrived that year from the Giants and he just made baseball sound and look (the once a month the games were televised)fun. He called them "El Birdos" and this young punk kid was such a fan. He was inducted the year I went to Cooperstown also, so you can see why I drove from here to Cooperstwon and back for 6 hours of intense heat.

Honorable mention Willie McGee, Ozzie Smith, Bud Black, Robin Yount, Willie McCovey, Frank White and Albert Pujols.

Religions...this is so true

The kindergarten teacher asked the students in her class to
bring something related to their families' religions to
class the next day.

She asked for volunteers to show what they had brought to
the rest of the class. One boy came forward and said, "I am
Muslim, and this is my prayer rug."

Another child came forward and said, "I am Jewish, and this
is my Star of David."

Another came forward and said, "I am Catholic, and this is
my Rosary."

The last little boy came forward and said, "I am Southern
Baptist, and this is my Covered Dish."

The Five Comedians Who Had it Then Lost It...

And let me add a sixth...

George Carlin. In his day, there was no one funnier with words or observations, but now, he seems just pissed off and angry. I guess losing your wife will do that for you but, when I look back at the people who influenced me more than most, George and his recollections (baseball/football) and his performances ("Wonderful wino") will be the ones that stay with me, not the angry, bitter, mean crap that he is spewing out now.

Anyway, here's the list:

Thanks for asking...

The surgery went well. I have staples in my throat now and apparently, they will stay in for ever. I should be fun at airports. What I had was a "diverticulum flap" that can be cancerous. Hopefully, mine is not. Morphine is fun, isn't it? I don't even remember much of yesterday or last night and that is probably good. I know that at 3:30am, I am not sleeping because of all of the crap plugged in to me and the IV drip keeps buzzing. So, I am listening to my Ipod, flipping through the channels. Weird. Thanks to all who have asked.

It's Just The Way It Is

Last week, I sent a follow up email for a job I was really interested in. You guys think I am making it up how shitty it can be out here, here is the exchange of emails only the names have been changed to protect the innocent (or guilty).

Mr. XXXX,
I was just checking in, it has been a while. I know that you all are taking you time to fill your XX position, but I just wanted to keep my name fresh in your mind. I would drop what I am doing here in St. Louis for an opportunity to "come home" and be the next head guy in XXXXXXX. I have a fresh audition if you need it and I am available to come down and see you in person, if you so desire. Just wanted to refresh your memory (I am sure you have been swamped), I am a former consultant, programmer in Kansas City, Operations Manager in Lincoln Nebraska and I grew up in XXX. Thanks for your time, sir and I hope to hear from you soon.
All my best,
Randy Raley
314-XXXXXXXX


and then he sends me this.....


Randy,
Thank you for your note, hwever, you are not in consideration for the position.
Sorry.
RXXX

This shit is getting to be too funny.

Did I Hear Correctly?

While watching Monday Night Football last night, I have come to grips with the fact that the NFL has become the National Thug League. You can't just make a tackle anymore, you have to stand and preen, kick dirt or do some dance after tackling someone who just ran for a fifteen yard gain. Now, after having surgery yesterday, I was pretty doped up listening and watching to the three clowns on ESPN. And I thought they said that the Chargers were sending a message to their brother Steve Foley and that they were hoping and praying for him. Here's the story on Steve Foley....


Steve Foley, an outside linebacker for the San Diego Chargers, was shot over the weekend by an off-duty police officer. Steve Foley's agent, David Levine, said Foley was shot three times and had surgery for wounds to his leg, arm and chest.
Chargers coach Marty Schottenheimer said Foley's injuries were not life-threatening. Schottenheimer said he did not know whether Foley would miss any time on the playing field as a result.
“The only thing we're thinking about is to make sure he is well,” Schottenheimer said. “Beyond that, it's not appropriate in my view to comment.”
AP reports that Sheriff's officials said the early-morning shooting occurred after the off-duty Coronado police officer followed a suspected drunken driver weaving in and out of freeway traffic at speeds up to 90 mph.
The wire service details a bizarre incident where Foley stopped three times, sheriff's officials said.
During one of the stops, Lisa Gaut, a passenger in the vehicle, yelled at the officer, authorities said. The shooting occurred after Foley got out of the vehicle near his home and began walking toward the officer, sheriff's officials said. Gaut got behind the wheel and drove next to Foley in the direction of the officer, the officials said.
The officer identified himself, authorities said, and warned Foley he was armed. They said he fired a warning shot, at which point Gaut steered the car at the officer.
"The officer fired two rounds at the vehicle," sheriff's Lt. Dennis Brugos said. "The male then came at the officer and put his right hand by his waistband and the officer fired at him."
It is unknown whether any charges will be filed against Foley.
His female companion, Lisa Maree Gaut, 25, was booked into Las Colinas jail yesterday afternoon on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon and driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol, according to the Sheriff's Department, reports the San Diego Union Tribune,
After several incidents in Cincinnati in 1999 and 2000, where he played for the Bengals, Foley was enrolled in an NFL alcohol program.
Foley was also arrested April 21 after police said he scuffled with officers. The district attorney's office is not pursuing charges against Foley in that incident.

Now, there is an honorable guy, huh? Yeah. And they did a dance for him after making a tackle. How nice. Steve Foley seems to be a persecuted guy, alright. He just can't seem to keep his hands off cops or quit driving drunk. I used to really like watching football, but if I see one more guy dance and prance over his fallen opponent, I am going to puke. The worst part of this story is that there may not be any charges filed. If this guy was me, I 'd be dead.

Why Is This Man Smiling?

This man is the new chairman of Ford Motor Company. He just picked up a check for 18.5 million dollars for signing his name. I wonder how the unemployed workers at the Hazelwood plant feel about this? Here is a suggestion for the big wigs at Ford. Design and build dependable cars that Americans actually want to buy. That might go a long way in getting your balance into the black. Other wise, no matter how much money you throw at your CEO, Toyota will still eat your lunch. Why? Their cars are smart looking, dependable and get a ton of gas mileage. Pretty easy if you ask me. But you didn't. Good luck with that, Ford. And you, too mister CEO.

Guitar Solos

How about some fun, huh? Seems it's been awhile. I was talking to a friend of mine and he brought us the fact that somewhere the Brits decided that the best guitar solo ever was David Gilmour's nasty, filthy solo in "Comfortably Numb" I couldn't argue, but then it got me thinking hmmmmm.....

My top twenty guitar solos* (in no particular order)....

"Still Got The Blues" by Gary Moore. This guys never got the respect he deserves. A monster guitar player that fronted Thin Lizzy for awhile and released "Still Got The Blues" in 1991. It was my favorite release that year.

"Johnny B. Goode" by Chuck Berry. Could this have been the first guitar solo ever? This is the foundation and the blueprint for a rock song. Chuck ruled.

"Couldn't Stand The Weather" by Stevie Ray Vaughn. He was sloppy but very few played with the passion and downright fervor than this guy. Playing this song in a band was a real thrill for me, Steve Pecaro's version pales only slightly.

"Since I've Been Loving You" by Jimmy Page. I could have included "Stairway To Heaven" but that's too easy. This is Jimmy at his darkest, bluesiest and his best work (I think).

"Then Came The Last Days Of May" by Buck Dharma (Blue Oyster Cult). This solo is just tasty and one of my all time favorites. Reminds me of high school and tokin in my late cousin's bedroom. (Sorry, Jess)

"Aqualung" by Martin Barre. Ian Anderson once said that this was the angriest piece of noise he had ever been a part of. This solo ranks with the best of all time. The high point of this legendary band.

"While My Guitar Gently Weeps" by Eric Clapton (Beatles). Ever heard a guitar cry? Was Eric ever better than this? George knew what he was doing when he asked Eric to do this majestic piece of work.

"Kid Charlemagne" by Larry Carlton (Steely Dan). I could have picked "My Old School" or "Reeling In The Years" but as far as tasty, sweet and to the point, this solo by one of my favorite guitar players is as close to perfect as you can get.

"Jessica" By Dickey Betts (Allman Brothers).Is there such a thing as a happy solo? This song makes me smile whenever I hear it. Dickey may have done better solos ("Blue Sky") but I really like the feel of this.

"Comfortably Numb" by David Gilmour (Pink Floyd). Alan Parsons kind of ruined this for me when he told me it was different pieces put together but the whole finished product just kicks ass.

"Highway Star" by Richie Blackmore (Deep Purple). How many times have I played this on my air guitar and nailed it? Thousands. This was the best band in the world at this time.

"Can't You Hear Me Knockin'?" by Keith Richards (Rolling Stones) Keith was never higher...er, I mean better than this album. Sloppy, funky and right on.

"Sultans of Swing" by Mark Knopfler (Dire Straits). Still, to this day, I get goosebumps hearing this workout. The solo was way too short, this song should be two minutes longer.

"Savannah Woman" by Tommy Bolin. Another one that's way too short. He's just getting warmed up on this before the song fades out. Kind of a funky, flamenco flavor that reminds me of a hot Latino woman. Underrated and overlooked guitar player.

"Eruption" by Eddie Van Halen. 'nuff said.

"Hotel California" by Joe Walsh and Don Felder (The Eagles). More of a duet than a solo, but a classic song and it wouldn't have the power without this. Joe was a great addition to this band.

"Intro/Sweet Jane" by Steve Hunter and Dick Wagner (Lou Reed).Maybe one of the best live recordings ever. Another great duet. At this time, Lou Reed was a great live act and his band was a top notch, first rate outfit.

"All Along The Watchtower" Dave Mason and Jimi Hendrix. OK, I cheated. Dave Mason played acoustic guitar on the original and his version just smokes. Jimi's version was very understated and showed he had polish when he wanted to.

"Europa" by Carlos Santana. A six minute solo. After this song, you just want to say..."oh baby"

"Cause We've Ended As Lovers" by Jeff Beck. This makes me cry. What style and grace by one of the greatest players ever. "Blow by Blow" contains a ton of these great stylish solos.

"Summertime" by Dave Edmunds (Love Sculpture). Before Dave was a pop artist, he played wicked blues. Gershwin is still spinning in his grave.

Honorable mention "Goodbye To Love" by the Carpenters (shaddup!) Joey Peluso cooks on this. "Stranglehold" by Ted Nugent, "Too Rolling Stoned" by Robin Trower, "Cliffs of Dover" by Eric Johnson, "The Thrill Is Gone" B. B. King, "Like A Hurricane", Neil Young, "Wire", U2. By popular demand, let's add these, too..."War Pigs", Toni Iommi (Black Sabbath), "Black Napkins" by Frank Zappa and "Still In Love With You" Brian Gorham (Thin Lizzy)
* Only one solo by a particular artist allowed, no jazz, hey, it's my list, make your own...

Yikes! Crikey, even!

Not again....

I hate hospitals...no really, I hate hospitals. The smell, the sounds. My dad died in a hospital 29 years ago yesterday. My mom died in a hospital. The smell makes me vomit. On Monday at 7:30am, I get cut on again. Shit. Apparently, I have a growth on the inside of my esophogus that needs to come out. Piss, damn, shit. The next thing you know I'll have more scars than this dude....

They may have to cut open my neck, fuck with my vocal chords (oh great) and remove it. Or just stick a long pair of scissors down my throat and cut it out. Whatever. This HAS to have been the worst friggin damn summer ever. Hopefully, it's just a growth and nothing more. The way this summer has been.....

Steely Dan

I had a pair of lawn seats to the show, but I stopped by the box office to see if there was anything else avaiulable. The young lady at the window said "no, nothing really" and I went away knowing that at least I would get in. About 20 minutes later, she stopped by the van and said there was one seat left, third row center. Shit, I don't have a hundred bucks for a seat and I was reminded of the time when I was married to my first wife. I had 7 bucks in my pocket to last all week. I found an English import copy of "Blues Helping" by Love Sculpture at my favorite record store for seven bucks. Well, what to do...you guessed, I bought the album but didn't have any money left. It had been 13 years since Steely Dan played in St. Louis and I am pretty sure they won't be back. So, I did it. Bought the ticket and after the broadcast, went inside to get my seat. Wow, unbelievable, Micheal McDonald was close enough to spit on me. Now, I am not the greatest Micheal McDonald fan. I think he has pretty much mumbled his way to stardom and I think he wasn't the guy the Doobie Brothers needed at the time. Some of his stuff is OK and his Motown covers are pretty pedestrian. He can't hit the high notes anymore and I thought he was OK.
Steely Dan come out to the tune of "Bodhisatva" and immediately, it was apparent that these guys had surrounded themselves with a crackerjack band, especially the young buck on drums. But wouldn't you know, the way my summer has been, there were two couples on my left that had the women sitting next to each other. Yak yak yak yak. I finally said to the guy next to me, "Look, I am not trying to be a prick or anything, but, shit I paid a hundred bucks I didn't have after waiting 13 years, is this conversation really necessary?" He leaned over said something and then the ladies left while feeding me a dirty look. Cool. The guy on my right however, kept asking an unnamed person on the phone.."where are you?" and chatting with that person. When did a concert become a fucking sporting event? Shut the hell up, people and enjoy the music you are in the third frikkin row!!! Back to the show, perfection personified. The encore was "FM" and "My Old School" with Micheal McDonald joining them. They played my favorites "Aja", "Home At Last","I Got The News", "Kid Charlemagne" "Do It Again" with MM on lead vocals and a very interesting version of "Show Biz Kids" done to the tune of "Cold Sweat" that was weird but highly entertaining. No "Deacon Blues", no "Reeling In The Years" but overall, true excellence. It started raining towrds the end of the show and I immediately thought of my friend Sean who is probably a bigger fan than I having to endure the rain while listening to the tunes. Man, what a way to close out the summer. I have high hopes that fall will bring a change of luck. How I wish I would have played that Martin guitar I bought in 1980 more, I would be pretty good by now.

Crikey, how ironic, Irwin dead

Steve Irwin 44, killed by animal. Spooked stingray did him in. I always liked his enthusiasm, energy and love for his job. If you are gonna go, it might as well be painless and at something you love. Left behind a wife and two kids. Bummer.

Questions...questions...

Why are drug companies advertising things that we can't buy without a prescription? Advodart is a prescription drug for enlarged prostrates. Of course, all over the commercial, there are pictures of water. Now, I ask you, if I had this condition, should I walk into my doctors office and say..."hey, doc, how bout a script for advodart, I saw it on TV?" Would he then say, ..."OK, sure..here ya go?"
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------I am nor sure what drug company it's for, but why is there a bee promoting the product and why does that bee speak with a spanish accent? And why are the people in the commercial not real people, they look like characters out of Toy Story?
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Why have I had the same dream for over thirty years? The dream that starts with me being happy to be in a new radio station and the all hell breaks loose when I can't find the records (yep, they are still records) in time to make the next segue? I had it again last night.
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What ever happened to common ground in this country? Why is it that if I disagree with you on one point, you think I disagree with you on everything? How can a person be pro life but then again believe in the death penalty?
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Why do I enjoy college football so much? Hell, these are my kids playing. My son knows Brady Quinn (QB at Notre Dame) and now, vicariously, I am a fan. Rooting for Notre Dame takes me back to the days of Ara Paseghian and the voice of Chris Schenkel and Lindsey Nelson.