A very attractive female reporter for ESPN (Britt McHenry) has been suspended by ESPN for saying some really unattractive things to a female towing company employee. (Video is at the link)
Among the things she said were...
*“I’m in the news, sweetheart, I will f*cking sue this place.”
*“That’s why I have a degree and you don’t. I wouldn’t work in a scumbag place like this”
*"It makes my skin crawl even being here.”
*“Do you feel good about your job? So I could be a college dropout and do the same thing?”
*"Maybe if I was missing some teeth they would hire me, huh?”
*“Lose some weight baby girl.”
Nice, eh? Pretty unattractive. She does deserve to be suspended for that.
Although, let me just say this as someone who has been towed for no reason, I refuse to stand up for towing companies. The employee in question probably does not deserve the wrath of this entitled reporter, but somebody working there probably does. There's a reason why they are behind bulletproof glass and have a camera trained on the pissed off people arriving to retrieve their cars (And it's not because they fear being robbed).
Once your car is towed, there is literally nothing you can do to get it back except for paying them. Even if they have unfairly towed you. Even if you can prove it. You still have to pay. They have performed their service. Towing you. Pay up or they can keep your car. Legally.
There's something very wrong about that. It's the reason why Steve Goodman wrote this song...
Musings, observations, and written works from the publisher of Eckhartz Press, the media critic for the Illinois Entertainer, co-host of Minutia Men, Minutia Men Celebrity Interview and Free Kicks, and the author of "The Loop Files", "Back in the D.D.R", "EveryCubEver", "The Living Wills", "$everance," "Father Knows Nothing," "The Radio Producer's Handbook," "Records Truly Is My Middle Name", and "Gruen Weiss Vor".
Friday, April 17, 2015
Today's the Day!
Guess who just got called up by the Cubs? Oh boy, oh boy, oh boy. Today is the Day! It's supposed to be sunny, 70 degrees, and the beginning of the rest of our lives.
No pressure, kid.
No pressure, kid.
Rahm's Reporters
Robert Feder has an interesting piece following up on a Columbia Journalism Review article about Rahm Emmanuel's difficulty with reporters. In the original article, writer Jackie Spinner mentions that Rahm's office told her to contact a few specifically approved reporters to make it a more well-rounded story. She doesn't mention which reporters are Rahm's guys, and she doesn't quote them.
So, Feder followed up to get the list through a FOIA request. Here they are...Rahm's guys (and gal)
*Jay Levine, chief correspondent for CBS-owned WBBM-Channel 2
*Neil Steinberg, columnist for the Sun-Times
*Fran Spielman, City Hall reporter for the Sun-Times
*Craig Dellimore, political editor for CBS Radio WBBM AM 780/WCFS FM 105.9
Interesting list, eh?
So, Feder followed up to get the list through a FOIA request. Here they are...Rahm's guys (and gal)
*Jay Levine, chief correspondent for CBS-owned WBBM-Channel 2
*Neil Steinberg, columnist for the Sun-Times
*Fran Spielman, City Hall reporter for the Sun-Times
*Craig Dellimore, political editor for CBS Radio WBBM AM 780/WCFS FM 105.9
Interesting list, eh?
Thursday, April 16, 2015
Skunk Season
It's already upon us. John Kass has a piece about it today in the Tribune.
I'm going out to get some grub killer, which the article recommends.
My dog Ivy has been skunked four times over the past few years.
I'm going out to get some grub killer, which the article recommends.
My dog Ivy has been skunked four times over the past few years.
Being Ringo
A fun look into the day-to-day life of an ex-Beatle by Rolling Stone Magazine.
I met him in 1989 and had him sign my copy of Ringo's Greatest Hits. OK, it was the Loop's copy. But it's mine now, and the statute of limitations has expired.*
*Plus, I got permission from the boss man.
I met him in 1989 and had him sign my copy of Ringo's Greatest Hits. OK, it was the Loop's copy. But it's mine now, and the statute of limitations has expired.*
*Plus, I got permission from the boss man.
Rocky Mountain High
From Tom Taylor's NOW column, this little tidbit about a brand new radio format in Colorado...
“K-High 1580” is the new all-marijuana format for Colorado Springs, where new LMA operator Mike Knar’s SoCo Radio vows to “do something different.” The station is owned by Pilgrim Communications, which just changed the call letters from KREL to KHIG (for “K-High”). Mike tells the Colorado Springs Gazette “We didn’t want to lease the station and continue to lose money, so we said, Let’s do something different and give voice to the marijuana industry” – in a state where pot is now legal and “socially acceptable.” Programming includes talk about medical and recreational marijuana, plus alternative medicine, yoga and other compatible subjects. This could a test of whether it’s acceptable to the FCC and other federal authorities for a product that is state-legal but federal-illegal. The Gazette says “Six Springs-area medical marijuana dispensaries have signed on as advertisers.” Lance Venta at Radio Insight adds that the flip from “Fox Sports 1580” to K-High comes as 4-20 is coming up on the calendar – April 20 being a kind of unofficial holiday for marijuana users. The morning lineup includes the “Wake & Bake” show.
I don't want to tell these guys how to sell their station to advertisers, but if they aren't on the phone to the Doritos people already, they are higher than they should be.
“K-High 1580” is the new all-marijuana format for Colorado Springs, where new LMA operator Mike Knar’s SoCo Radio vows to “do something different.” The station is owned by Pilgrim Communications, which just changed the call letters from KREL to KHIG (for “K-High”). Mike tells the Colorado Springs Gazette “We didn’t want to lease the station and continue to lose money, so we said, Let’s do something different and give voice to the marijuana industry” – in a state where pot is now legal and “socially acceptable.” Programming includes talk about medical and recreational marijuana, plus alternative medicine, yoga and other compatible subjects. This could a test of whether it’s acceptable to the FCC and other federal authorities for a product that is state-legal but federal-illegal. The Gazette says “Six Springs-area medical marijuana dispensaries have signed on as advertisers.” Lance Venta at Radio Insight adds that the flip from “Fox Sports 1580” to K-High comes as 4-20 is coming up on the calendar – April 20 being a kind of unofficial holiday for marijuana users. The morning lineup includes the “Wake & Bake” show.
I don't want to tell these guys how to sell their station to advertisers, but if they aren't on the phone to the Doritos people already, they are higher than they should be.
You Still Need Permission
Not sure why this happens to Republican presidential hopefuls every four years, but it does. This time it's Marco Rubio. From the RAMP Newsletter...
Marco Rubio wrapped up his Miami campaign kickoff rally on Monday by exiting to the sound of "Something New" by Swedish duo Axwell ^ Ingrosso. There was just one minor problem -- Axwell and Ingrosso told Business Insider that Rubio's campaign did not ask to use their song and they would like him to stop. "Axwell ^ Ingrosso didn't give their permission for this song to be used and don't want to be affiliated with a particular party during the upcoming presidential race," the band said in a statement on Tuesday. Rubio's campaign did not respond to a request for comment.
Marco Rubio wrapped up his Miami campaign kickoff rally on Monday by exiting to the sound of "Something New" by Swedish duo Axwell ^ Ingrosso. There was just one minor problem -- Axwell and Ingrosso told Business Insider that Rubio's campaign did not ask to use their song and they would like him to stop. "Axwell ^ Ingrosso didn't give their permission for this song to be used and don't want to be affiliated with a particular party during the upcoming presidential race," the band said in a statement on Tuesday. Rubio's campaign did not respond to a request for comment.
The Tramp
100 years ago this week, Chicago film studio Essanay (located on the north side of the city) released a movie starring their newest sensation, Charlie Chaplin. 100 years later it remains his most famous film...
Note: The music at the beginning of the film, "Du Du Liegst Mir in Herzen", will become a no-no just a few years later when America enters World War I.
Note: The music at the beginning of the film, "Du Du Liegst Mir in Herzen", will become a no-no just a few years later when America enters World War I.
Wednesday, April 15, 2015
The Mix and The Drive Bring Home More Hardware
Hubbard Broadcasting has figured out what broadcasting for the community is all about. Once again two of their stations (The Drive and The Mix) were honored by the National Association of Broadcasters with the Crystal Award.
Details are here.
Congrats to a first-class organization.
Details are here.
Congrats to a first-class organization.
More Like A Platinum Parachute
John Hogan ran iHeart radio (formerly known as Clear Channel) before stepping aside last year. It was rumored that he got a pretty hefty farewell handshake, but the actual details weren't released until yesterday. From Tom Taylor's NOW column...
The longtime head of Clear Channel radio retired in January 2014 as CEO Bob Pittman re-shaped and flattened the executive structure. A just-filed proxy statement at the SEC reveals how golden that goodbye handshake was – just $38,352 in Hogan’s 2014 salary (reflecting his January exit). But $5,312,531 in the grab-bag of “all other compensation.” That included $225,000 in “housing and related expenses,” covering his move from San Antonio to New York (to be near Pittman). And another $175,145 in “housing and related expenses tax gross-up” – meaning that the company made up for the taxes Hogan had to pay on his perks. (That’s what “gross-up” means.) Hogan shows $25,000 in “legal expenses.” That may be related to negotiating the exit package, where the really standout number is Hogan’s severance - $4,874,063. Part of Hogan’s total pay was $900,000 in deferred compensation from 2012.
Keep in mind that under Hogan, Clear Channel cut it's operations to a ridiculous staffing level barely able to keep stations on the air. But as long as he is taken care of, everything is fine.
The longtime head of Clear Channel radio retired in January 2014 as CEO Bob Pittman re-shaped and flattened the executive structure. A just-filed proxy statement at the SEC reveals how golden that goodbye handshake was – just $38,352 in Hogan’s 2014 salary (reflecting his January exit). But $5,312,531 in the grab-bag of “all other compensation.” That included $225,000 in “housing and related expenses,” covering his move from San Antonio to New York (to be near Pittman). And another $175,145 in “housing and related expenses tax gross-up” – meaning that the company made up for the taxes Hogan had to pay on his perks. (That’s what “gross-up” means.) Hogan shows $25,000 in “legal expenses.” That may be related to negotiating the exit package, where the really standout number is Hogan’s severance - $4,874,063. Part of Hogan’s total pay was $900,000 in deferred compensation from 2012.
Keep in mind that under Hogan, Clear Channel cut it's operations to a ridiculous staffing level barely able to keep stations on the air. But as long as he is taken care of, everything is fine.
Ringo on the Radio
From this morning's RAMP Newsletter...
It's been 27 years since The Beatles were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. This Saturday, the famous Ringo Starr will be one of just 21 performers to be inducted twice, and the only one to be inducted in two different categories. Starr discusses the honor and his life and times with The Beatles on this week's episode of Paul Shaffer's Day in Rock, brought to you by our friends at Envision Networks. "Paul McCartney was the instigator," Starr said. "He called me to say, 'They're going to put you in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame,' and he's going to do the induction and would I accept? And I said, 'Oh yeah, sure!'" The full feature will air April 17 on affiliate stations and will also be available online.
It's been 27 years since The Beatles were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. This Saturday, the famous Ringo Starr will be one of just 21 performers to be inducted twice, and the only one to be inducted in two different categories. Starr discusses the honor and his life and times with The Beatles on this week's episode of Paul Shaffer's Day in Rock, brought to you by our friends at Envision Networks. "Paul McCartney was the instigator," Starr said. "He called me to say, 'They're going to put you in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame,' and he's going to do the induction and would I accept? And I said, 'Oh yeah, sure!'" The full feature will air April 17 on affiliate stations and will also be available online.
Worst Jobs
According to careercast.com, the #1 worst job in America is...Newspaper Reporter.
See the full list here.
The others in the bottom 5 are...Lumberjack (my job), Enlisted Military, Cook, and...wait for it...broadcaster. The top 5 are...actuary, audiologist, mathemetician, statistician, and biomedical engineer.
See the full list here.
The others in the bottom 5 are...Lumberjack (my job), Enlisted Military, Cook, and...wait for it...broadcaster. The top 5 are...actuary, audiologist, mathemetician, statistician, and biomedical engineer.
Tuesday, April 14, 2015
Is this a real meltdown?
It appears to be Dennis Quaid having a meltdown on set. (Caution: NSFW) I'm not sure if it's real or not, but this piece in Slate has a few more meltdowns on tape that you might also enjoy, including Christian Bale, Lilly Tomlin/David O. Russell, and Bill O'Reilly.
LATE UPDATE: It's a Funny or Die bit.
LATE UPDATE: It's a Funny or Die bit.
Ron Wood
From The Olde Disc Jockey's Almanac, this little tidbit from 40 years ago today...
April 14, 1975…The Rolling Stones announced that former Faces member Ron Wood would be replacing the guitarist Mick Taylor who had departed the band.
April 14, 1975…The Rolling Stones announced that former Faces member Ron Wood would be replacing the guitarist Mick Taylor who had departed the band.
Abe Lincoln Poetry
Eckhartz Press co-founder David Stern, the author of “The Balding Handbook”, was a child prodigy. (That’s him on his big sister’s lap in 1964). By the time he was in grade school he was writing award-winning poetry. He wrote a poem about his hero Abraham Lincoln back in 1974–when he was only 11 years old. He won the grand prize, which was to read it on the air on WBEZ Radio.
Sadly, that recording has been lost to time. Luckily for us, Stern later performed his award-winning poem as an adult. On this 150th anniversary of President Lincoln’s assassination, enjoy it in all it’s audio splendor at the Eckhartz Press blog.
Sadly, that recording has been lost to time. Luckily for us, Stern later performed his award-winning poem as an adult. On this 150th anniversary of President Lincoln’s assassination, enjoy it in all it’s audio splendor at the Eckhartz Press blog.
The story of "Louie Louie"
The man who wrote "Louie Louie" sold it for a whopping total of $750. It has since become the most recorded song in rock and roll history. Bummer for him, right? Well, I didn't realize that this story actually had a happy ending for Richard Berry (the writer of the song). It didn't happen until many years later, but it did happen.
That story is here. (H/t to "M.E." for pointing this out)
This is his original version of the song, by the way...
That story is here. (H/t to "M.E." for pointing this out)
This is his original version of the song, by the way...
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