Christiern

My mistake, I was thinking more of the corporations who (with FCC approval) purchase the small stations and remove whatever local character they had. Corporations that program the music from NY or LA. Local stations were like local newspapers, they were concerned with issues and people that never got a mention on network radio. Many minority-owned stations served their community well and filled the gaps created by the big guys--well, they are dropping like flies, bought out by corporations that have but one aim: to make money. Years ago, when broadcasting was my profession, the FCC rules were such that there was a limit to have many media outlets any one entity could own in a market. It was a sensible ruling that kept stations and newspapers in private hands and thus served the local community. The Bush FCC (these people are appointed, not elected) makes rulings that benefit the big corporations and totally ignore the fact that the airwaves belong to the people, that stations are given license to use it and that a good portion of that use is expected to be in the public interest. The current FCC commission is a shill for the White House, only 2 of its 5 members are not Republicans appointed to carry out the party's wishes. It's really a shame. Satellite radio is a whole different thing and I apologize for making the mistake.

Is this another Schaap blatherfest?

Are these satellite radio stations not the culprits (along with Bush's FCC) who are putting small local stations out of business?

Thanks, MG, I knew you would have the answer. BTW, my gggrandfather also witnessed (and describes) the arrest of an anarchist in Italy. He also found the Swiss to be exceedingly humorless. The Germans always had a change of horses ready, the French never did. The diary is fascinating, as is another one from his trip to check out the family coffee plantations in South and Central America. Here's a photo from that trip:

I heard the laughter, Allen--but, of course, I have a Mac BTW, glad to hear that jazz is included on volume 5 of Devlin' Tune.

Oh, so Chuckie didn't borrow an axe?

MG: "I think this [large country, no need to leave it] is the reason Chris started the thread. I understand that only about 10% of Americans have passports." That's right, and the fact that now even this large country is beginning to make it a necessity to have a passport. Growing up in Europe, I started out being named on my mother's passport, but I had my own (Icelandic) since 1941, when I was ten, and I've had one ever since. Incidentally, I have a diary kept by my great, great grandfather in 1834, when he traveled from Copenhagen to Sicily. In it he makes several mentions of having to pass through checkpoints in and within various countries. I get the impression that it was very important to have official papers of identity, so the need I sensed for a lifelong series of passports may be a carry-over from those days. What do you think, MG?

I have yet to visit the chat room--should I?

But it's only near-beer, isn't it?

Good observation, Niko. Besides coming off like a shill for that other board, "djbinder" is obviously out to disrupt things here while making a pretense of being Mr. (Miss?) "fair and balanced." Transparent as clear glass, if you ask me.

And Chris, I know you from AAJ, but as "clave." I really appreciated your comments + link on the Laura Nyro thread there, some months back. . Thanks, Clave, it occurred to me that Michael's pub was a great place with bad vibes, so I drew the analogy--no intention of getting anyone into a confrontation.

seeline: "Chris, I will NOT get into it with you or anyone else here on this board ..." Who said anything about getting into something with you? I don't even know who you are, so calm down and stop making assumptions.

There used to be a jazz spot here in NYC, called Michael's Pub. It featured great music played by the very best in the business,l but it was a terrible place to go to, because the guy who ran it was a rude, attitude-ridden jerk. AAJ reminds me, in many ways, of Michael's Pub--which went out of business, BTW.

Why be embarrassed? you still have a couple of years to make that hop to Havana!

There's so much talk of the need for ID these days and passports are no longer just for traveling abroad, so--having just come across a pile of my own outdated ones--I wondered how many of you have a passport. My own collection (partial)

If you go to AAJ, you will note that Mike Ricci is constantly starting thread--he might even be starting more threads than these bozos close! Organissimo seems to have escaped their radar, but it definitely ought to be included.

Yes, on the Upper West Side. The normal plain haircut rate here is $10-12. In Philly?

Kenny Weir, just last night, as I made a quick trip to survey Cyberround Zero, I came across one of your posts and found myself hoping that you would ease your way across the border. Hope you are here to stay in a place where exchanges drift to silliness when they reach the edge of discomfort and most of the locks are on our heads. Apropos that, I'm getting a conventional $10 haircut this morning.

Are you perhaps referring to the Italian Alamacaroni label?

Wasn't that the year they introduced ScalpoSand™? I tried it but came to the conclusion that sandpaper is not the solution for me. Then there was that late-nite-TV contraption, Flowbee© that sucked your hair off... I understand it really sucked! Now back to glad to be back.....good to see you Saundra, don't go away.

Thanks for the explanation. I guess there was a time when I 1 and 2'ed it, but I keep it somewhat longer now. Of course there was also a time when I kept it shoulder-length, to go with my love beads and tie-dyed tee shirt. The best haircuts I ever got were in London, in the Sixties, when I was working for the BBC. The place was by appointment only and I was told the PM went there. What was so great about the cut was that I just had to run my fingers through my hair and it fell into place, perfectly. Unfortunately, I had to have every other haircut in NYC, but I had that barber do no more than a light trim.

I've been getting haircuts for over seven decades and I don't know what a number 1 or 2 is--can someone elucidate?

He gives the tag a new meaning.

I agree that you have opined an important factor, another one, IMO, is the choice of moderators--we have some really nice guys who themselves are major contributors of content--they tend to have intolerant, self-important police types. I was banished from AAJ for 30 days by one of those goons, but he need not have bothered, I had had my fill and was gone for good as long as he was there. Yesterday, inspired by the recent influx of highly desirable posters from that board, I decided to check it out and came to the conclusion that it would take more than the elimination of Mr. Goon from Ottawa to get me back. These is nothing there to attract me and a whole lot to repel me. Enough said, glad to have y'all in the Big O community, AAJ exiles.

Homocides ? The footwear is undeniably a little kitschy or campy , but from the sounds of it , this was more likely a double homeycide .