What I've Recently Found

ON the WorldWideWeb, there are so many things to see that it simply boggles the mind. That includes music sites, information galore, and literally thousands of places where you'll read comments from bloggers and/or letter-writers & commentators. I'll tell you about my "site of the week" for the past several days.

I was reading the Brian Wilson "blue board" message board and someone posted that this digital online UK radio station has a host/DJ who has been playing a track from Brian Wilson's upcoming "That Lucky Old Sun" CD/DVD/Vinyl (yes, limited record supply, too!) set to hit stores on 2 September 2008. So, naturally I wanted to hear this DJ and radio station. I searched David "Kid" Jansen's name and found this link. When I put it on the computer, I was instantly loving the music mix. I stayed up pretty much all-night the other night...well...that should say SOMETHING right there --- I go to bed usually before midnight (and miss Craig Ferguson regularly because of it!) and rise usually between 4 and 6 o'clock most mornings. That particular night was an exception --- because the music mix is exceptional to a person of my age. Generally it's music from the 60s, 70s, 80s --- pop music with that UK flair and flavour (have to spell it the UK way, ya know) --- from Elvis to Erasure, the Beatles and Beach Boys, and the occasional newer song from well-established artists. Hence, it seems, the reason that David Jansen plays the Brian Wilson track. Well, I didn't hear that particular song, but Jansen did promise he would play a new Van Morrison tune (I actually left the room and missed it, so I cannot tell you anything about it) that morning (he's on from 10am to Noon in London...that, my friends, is between 4am and 6am in St. Louis).
Anyway...I wanted to share --- especially for you who enjoy a mix of music like this: Crispian St. Peters "Pied Piper", Elvis "Stuck Like Glue", whoa..."Boogie Oogie Oogie"..."Words" by BeeGees, "Say A Little Prayer" by Aretha..."Cry" by Godley and Creme..."Hello I Love You" by The Doors...this station is so different..."Let Your Yes Be Yes and Your NO be No" by The Pioneers..."Sometimes" by Erasure..."Mind Games" by John Lennon..."Cecilia" by Simon & Garfunkel...I can't tell you how this UK version of "Classic Hits" means "real hits" - the UK version includes songs only charting in the UK, so you can be assured you won't know all the songs - instead of the stuff you get on American FM radio which claims the "classic hits" moniker, yet only plays rock songs and all but ignores pop music. This Gold Music channel is the FOR REAL station for music fans who want variety and at least a large chunk of music from that era. They do occasionally throw in a 50s tune or a 90s tune, and as I stated a new track from an artist when they have one that hits their fancy...but the majority of their music is 1962-1989.
Go ahead and go there, and open up the media player --- make sure you crank up your speakers loud when you're moving around the house doing housework or just sit online reading your emails and favourite blogs.

http://www.mygoldmusic.co.uk/Article.asp?id=484860&spid=18956

They have UK news and sports, commercials (not many, but it is interesting to hear a furniture company commercial for a British store), and the personalities are well tuned-in to the local scenes (okay, the entire regional scene, I'd say because they're a region-wide station). I'd love to have this station ON THE AIR in the US!

Have a listen and let me know what you think!

JRJ

Wishing KZQZ a good change; Economy Rollercoasters

Hi, Johnny Rabbitt Junior fans. It's Friday night, and I finally have access to the computer to tell you what I can.

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I was informed that KZQZ is going "in a different direction", and that I am "no longer needed" as an employee of KZQZ.



I don't truly know what direction the station will be heading. If there is something going on with the station manager, Bob Romanik, I don't know what that would be at this point...he has not talked with me since a brief conversation on Tuesday afternoon. That conversation was marked with some references to changes, but no exact reason for those changes.



If you have questions, please ask Bob Romanik those questions --- I really don't have any answers for them.



Meanwhile:



I would like to thank those advertisers who had planned to start on the air this week and next week on KZQZ and on the RABBITT REUNION show...I am, unfortunately, unable to play your commercials, read them to the listeners, and therefore unable to fulfill the obligation that I had hoped to have completed for you. Yes, I know that you'd love to be on the air on KZQZ...you may always contact the station at its permanent office in Belleville, Illinois - the phone number is 618-394-9965. They may have hired a sales manager...not having been part of the station since the other day, I am not on the inside to tell you for certain that there has been any sales staff hired, although it appeared that the station was about to hire one or two people.



I hope that TJ the DJ, Jim "Super" Shannon, The Foxman, Tina Sanders, Jackie McCoy and Mad Maynard, Steve Davis, and Bob Romanik are able to weather the changes. I know that Clark "Dr. Boogie" Davis will be just fine...but that's great insider information anyway!



From the conversation I did have with Bob Romanik on Monday, and again on Tuesday afternoon, Bob apparently thought I was heading for another radio station...he thought I had been offered a job elsewhere. As of Tuesday at 4:30pm [when I walked out the door of KZQZ supposing that I may possibly still be back on THURSDAY (Bob had asked me to take Wednesday off and call on Thursday morning)], I had not called any other stations for possible employment --- and none had offered me any positions. Since that time, I have made contacts in hopes of securing another job. That having been said, if Bob wanted me back --- and would be willing to pay me for my services --- I would consider that strongly. I believe in oldies as a format, and great personality rockin' jocks as being one of the reasons that people like to listen to the radio, and in AM radio as a great permanent place for oldies in a radio market like St. Louis.



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HERE COMES THE OPINION PART:



The barrel of oil dropped rather significantly over the period of last week Friday through Thursday this week. The stock market dropped significantly last week, then had a slight rebound on the oil price fall this week.



It's still the beginning of a depression.



The housing market continues to lose steam. The mortgage situation remains dire. Escrow accounts are now the targets of the lenders --- they're REQUIRING additional money to many of those who have bought houses inside the past four years. The increases may acrue money for the lenders faster, but maybe they should consider the economic factors which could also cause the mortgage fiasco to become even MORE of a catastrophy. If they ask for additional money from those to whom they've now lent money at the beginning of the mortgage cycle, they are asking people who have only a "little" wiggle room to come up with additional funds. Sure, in many cases they are prepared to pay up to twice what they had been paying each month. But, not all people figured into their budget a cost of TWO TIMES what their monthly payment would be --- and you should already know that will cause ADDITIONAL foreclosures.

That would also mean --- get this, people --- the mortgage companies asking for more money to cover escrow payments would also be CAUSING MORE PROBLEMS FOR THEMSELVES because they'd never be able to recover the money that they had suddenly caused to become additional outstanding debt due to the additional foreclosures. The actual debts could become significantly higher to the lender. Then, the lender begs for the Federal Government to help them recover.



Um...IndyMac...that's one word I guess I could bring up to the light now.



I hope you all have a good weekend!

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NOTE:

Clark "Dr. Boogie" Davis...keep on RRRRRRRRRRRRRRRROOOCCKKKKKIINNNN'!!!

A Day With the Baby Bunny

Johnny's taking a break from blogging today and asked me to fill in for him. I'm not nearly as good as he is at this, but I'll take a stab at it. First, let me introduce myself. I'm Capt. KT, a good friend of JRJ's.

Junior spent some time with his daughter today. For a lot of reasons, he hasn't had as much time with her as he would like lately, so days like today are precious to him. Baby Bunny is one of the sweetest little girls in the world. You can't help but smile when you're around her! She's funny, smart, and kind. If you're sad or upset, this darling girl will do all in her power to cheer you up. She's just that kind of person. I've often heard JRJ declare that he is, "The luckiest daddy in the whole world."

So, JRJ and his Baby Bunny had a fun daddy-daughter day. They went to one of her favorite restaurants for breakfast and then did a little shopping. I got to share part of the day with them even though we were in separate cities. How? We were talking on the phone and realized that they were in the same store that I was in at the time. The three of us discussed DVDs over the phone as if we were all in the same place and not separated by some 2000 miles. It was a lot of fun! All in all, they had a great time and got to spend some much needed time together.

That's about it for now. Johnny will be back to blogging soon. He really enjoys hearing from everyone, so please send him a note sometime. Thanks for listening to Johnny!