Change is constant
It seems like only yesterday, but it's been over 25 years since I last worked regularly as a reporter at an all-news radio station. I thought that the station, KNUU 970-AM in Nevada, would remain a news, or news/talk outlet forever. On Saturday night I found out that isn't the case. It was a bit disheartening to discover it had been purchased by another radio network and is now broadcasting religious programming. I don't have a problem with religious programming being broadcast on the radio, I just would have preferred to see KNUU stay in the news format. I guess when and if I venture to Las Vegas again, I'll have to listen to other stations that have now gone to that format. Interestingly enough, another station I worked at in Las Vegas, that one as an FM "jock", is now simulcasting an AM station's news/talk format. Ironic? Just out of curiousity, I checked and found the third station I had worked at (producing/board operator for a sports betting talk show) has also flipped formats and is now a Spanish language station.
Just as well, since after nearly a year with a tube in my throat, I no longer have that great set of "pipes" that got me into radio. I still have an okay voice I guess, but it isn't what it once was. Another example of the constancy of change.
I was worried that I would have trouble later on this morning trying to get to the mall to see a movie, because I need to cross Venice Boulevard. But this time they are going to close it down to traffic but allow people to cross at various points. Last time I dealt with a closure like that I had to go so far to the East to cross over, that by the time I was able to backtrack, I missed the movie I wanted to see. But I still plan to leave early.
If you believe in polls, it looks like Eric Garcetti will be L.A.'s next mayor. He has a ten point lead over Wendy Greuel. The real losers of the election will be the residents of the city, as neither will take on the real crises facing the city of unfunded pension liabilities and a climate that is driving business away rather than encouring it to stay (or come to L.A.).
Las Vegas has long been the poster city for the housing meltdown and bad economy. Now the town is showing signs of life, with some construction projects resuming, tourism on the rise and maybe things are turning around. It's too soon to know for sure, but maybe they have finally turned the corner. One thing is certain about that town. The more big hotel/casinos that go up, the tougher it will be for the smaller properties to compete. How much longer will the Hooters Hotel/Casino survive before it is once again "re-branded"? Doesn't matter. Unless someone comes up with a genius marketing strategy, it will probably never do well.
I sometimes wonder if I had another brush with death and didn't realize it until much later. As the lawsuits against those behind the 1-800-GET-THIN wind their way through the legal system, I'm reminded of how close I came to getting a lat band procedure in early 2009. I wasn't very healthy and probably not a good candidate for surgery, but after a four minute cursory examination, a doctor pronounced me fit to undergo the procedure. Only the fact I wasn't willing to take on $15,000 in additional debt to pay for it kept me from having it done. With five people dead from complications following this procedure by these doctors, I feel very fortunate that I said no. As I was walking out, the sales-rep even offered an additional discount of $2,000. If she'd said $5,000 I might have thought about it. And I might have been number six. I feel very sad for the families of the five, and of the others who had complications and managed to survive.
The real tragedy is that this was all caused by a lack of regulatory oversight that is still going on in how California monitors surgical clinics owned and operated by doctors. Their governance was moved from the state's Department of Public Health to the Medical Board of CA by a court in 2007 and it's been messed up ever since.
If you're in Iceland and you're out looking for a "hook-up", don't be surprised if she or he wants to 'bump' cell phones. There is an app there that allows people to ensure the person they are about to hook-up with isn't a relative. It is a much bigger risk in the nation with less than 500,000 residents, many of whom are related.
Did officials of the U.S. Department of Justice tell a former employee of HSBC that was wanted by Switzerland for theft of stealing banking information that he was in danger of being caught and should flee to France? That's what he's saying and Justice has yet to comment.
This Date in History:
On this date in 735 BC, Romulus founded Rome.
On this date in 571, Muhammad was born in Makkah.
On this date in 1509, Henry VIII takes the throne of England.
On this date in 1918, the "Red Baron", Manfred von Richthofen is shot down and killed.
On this date in 1922, the first "Aggie Muster" was held.
On this date in 1934, the most famous photo of the "Loch Ness Monster" is published. It is revealed to be a hoax 65 years later.
On this date in 1942, Aggie Muster is held by 26 graduates of Texas A&M on Corregidor, as they are being shelled by the Japanese.
On this date in 1952, Secretary's Day (now Administrative Professional's Day) is celebrated for the first time.
On this date in 1960, Brasilia is officially inaugurated as the capital of Brazil.
On this date in 1975, Xuan Loc, the last outpost preventing the North Vietnamese from attacking Saigon directly, falls. The President of South Vietnam, Nguyen Van Thieu flees Saigon on this date.
On this date in 1982, pitcher Rollie Fingers becomes the first major leaguer to record 300 saves.
Famous Folk Born on this Date:
Charlotte Bronte
Joe McCarthy (the baseball manager not the idiot Senator)
Pat Brown
Anthony Quinn
Alistair MacLean
Queen Elizabeth II
Elaine May
James Dobson
Helen Prejean
Iggy Pop
John Weider
Paul Davis
Gary Condit
Tony Danza
Andie MacDowell
Robin Meade (I didn't know she was Miss Ohio)
Jim Thornton
Nicole Sullivan
James McAvoy
Tony Romo
Just as well, since after nearly a year with a tube in my throat, I no longer have that great set of "pipes" that got me into radio. I still have an okay voice I guess, but it isn't what it once was. Another example of the constancy of change.
I was worried that I would have trouble later on this morning trying to get to the mall to see a movie, because I need to cross Venice Boulevard. But this time they are going to close it down to traffic but allow people to cross at various points. Last time I dealt with a closure like that I had to go so far to the East to cross over, that by the time I was able to backtrack, I missed the movie I wanted to see. But I still plan to leave early.
If you believe in polls, it looks like Eric Garcetti will be L.A.'s next mayor. He has a ten point lead over Wendy Greuel. The real losers of the election will be the residents of the city, as neither will take on the real crises facing the city of unfunded pension liabilities and a climate that is driving business away rather than encouring it to stay (or come to L.A.).
Las Vegas has long been the poster city for the housing meltdown and bad economy. Now the town is showing signs of life, with some construction projects resuming, tourism on the rise and maybe things are turning around. It's too soon to know for sure, but maybe they have finally turned the corner. One thing is certain about that town. The more big hotel/casinos that go up, the tougher it will be for the smaller properties to compete. How much longer will the Hooters Hotel/Casino survive before it is once again "re-branded"? Doesn't matter. Unless someone comes up with a genius marketing strategy, it will probably never do well.
I sometimes wonder if I had another brush with death and didn't realize it until much later. As the lawsuits against those behind the 1-800-GET-THIN wind their way through the legal system, I'm reminded of how close I came to getting a lat band procedure in early 2009. I wasn't very healthy and probably not a good candidate for surgery, but after a four minute cursory examination, a doctor pronounced me fit to undergo the procedure. Only the fact I wasn't willing to take on $15,000 in additional debt to pay for it kept me from having it done. With five people dead from complications following this procedure by these doctors, I feel very fortunate that I said no. As I was walking out, the sales-rep even offered an additional discount of $2,000. If she'd said $5,000 I might have thought about it. And I might have been number six. I feel very sad for the families of the five, and of the others who had complications and managed to survive.
The real tragedy is that this was all caused by a lack of regulatory oversight that is still going on in how California monitors surgical clinics owned and operated by doctors. Their governance was moved from the state's Department of Public Health to the Medical Board of CA by a court in 2007 and it's been messed up ever since.
If you're in Iceland and you're out looking for a "hook-up", don't be surprised if she or he wants to 'bump' cell phones. There is an app there that allows people to ensure the person they are about to hook-up with isn't a relative. It is a much bigger risk in the nation with less than 500,000 residents, many of whom are related.
Did officials of the U.S. Department of Justice tell a former employee of HSBC that was wanted by Switzerland for theft of stealing banking information that he was in danger of being caught and should flee to France? That's what he's saying and Justice has yet to comment.
This Date in History:
On this date in 735 BC, Romulus founded Rome.
On this date in 571, Muhammad was born in Makkah.
On this date in 1509, Henry VIII takes the throne of England.
On this date in 1918, the "Red Baron", Manfred von Richthofen is shot down and killed.
On this date in 1922, the first "Aggie Muster" was held.
On this date in 1934, the most famous photo of the "Loch Ness Monster" is published. It is revealed to be a hoax 65 years later.
On this date in 1942, Aggie Muster is held by 26 graduates of Texas A&M on Corregidor, as they are being shelled by the Japanese.
On this date in 1952, Secretary's Day (now Administrative Professional's Day) is celebrated for the first time.
On this date in 1960, Brasilia is officially inaugurated as the capital of Brazil.
On this date in 1975, Xuan Loc, the last outpost preventing the North Vietnamese from attacking Saigon directly, falls. The President of South Vietnam, Nguyen Van Thieu flees Saigon on this date.
On this date in 1982, pitcher Rollie Fingers becomes the first major leaguer to record 300 saves.
Famous Folk Born on this Date:
Charlotte Bronte
Joe McCarthy (the baseball manager not the idiot Senator)
Pat Brown
Anthony Quinn
Alistair MacLean
Queen Elizabeth II
Elaine May
James Dobson
Helen Prejean
Iggy Pop
John Weider
Paul Davis
Gary Condit
Tony Danza
Andie MacDowell
Robin Meade (I didn't know she was Miss Ohio)
Jim Thornton
Nicole Sullivan
James McAvoy
Tony Romo
posted by me at 2:57 PM
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