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Radio Talk
With Frank Ahrens
Washington Post Staff Writer
Tuesday, April 24, 2001; 1 p.m. EDT
Frank Ahrens covers radio for The Washington Post. His column -- "The Listener" -- appears every other Tuesday in the Style section. Frank is also a general assignment feature writer, and his reporting subjects have included everything from minivans to murders, from baseball to bandwidth.
If you're wondering about the inner workings of radio in Washington, around the country and on the Web, or want to know what Frank really thinks of minivans, then don't touch that dial . . . um, mouse! Please join us for this discussion!
A transcript follows.
Editor's Note: Washingtonpost.com moderators retain editorial control
over Live Online discussions and choose the most relevant questions for guests and hosts; guests and hosts can decline to answer questions.
Frank Ahrens: Greetings all, and welcome to the off-week chat. Spent some of the last week listening to the new top 40 station--Hot 99.5, which has its new call letters, WIHT. And also listening to the new talk station, WTNT (570 AM). And also taking calls and letters from more older listeners still upset with the loss of Music Of Your Life WGAY, but that was last week's column.
Early impressions of Hot 99.5: The music is similar to that of the station it's aiming to hurt, Z104, but Hot 99.5's sound is blacker, with less boy-group, Britney and more Nelly and Destiny's Child. The station has been working in personalities, but they are either Clear CHannel top 40 jocks elsewhere in teh country (for instance, from Z100, the Clear Channel top 40 station in NYC which is the model for Hot 99.5) or they've got singers to do some shows, introducing their own material, again, from out of town. No local jocks yet. It occurs to me that you could run a station without local jocks, but I don't think listeners would accept that, ultimately. On WTNT, the programming is initially hampered by the station's weak signal. It disappears downtown in between buildings and gets staticky in the suburbs. Here's a for instance: Weekend before last, I think, I was listening to an Orioles game in Montgomery County and I hear it equally as well on Balitmore's WBAL (1090) as I did on WTNT. I've listened most to Michael Gramham, who does a midday show, and, even tho he's in South Carolina, he addresses local issues. He's a hard-right conservative and, last week when he was talking about Arlington Co. councilmemeber's attempt to take Ronald Reagan's name off the airport's Metro stop, he called a disagreeing caller he was an "idiot" and a "moron." I listened to syndicated afternoon talker Phil Hendrie, "the man of a thousand voices" (20, actually) and he was taking real callers, while pretending to be another caller on another line who argued with the real callers. It was clear to me that Hendrie was the other caller, but not clear at all to the caller, who was held up to ridicule. I will say this: it's a creative show. Anyway, there's some quick takes. Let's get to your questions...
22307:
What's your take on the XM and Sirius satellite radio companies? It sounds appealing to me, considering the dearth of listenable stations in the D.C. market.
Frank Ahrens: I think there's a long-term market for pay satellite radio in yoru car (the analogy is cable TV). Right now, however, both companies are struggling with low stock prices and cautious Wall Street analysts: XM has only one of their two satellites up, and Sirius recently admitted that the automakers with whom they're partnered have not necessarily agreed to put the satellite radios in their 2002 model cars. (!) This is a big deal, as both companies are dependent on the radios being installed in cars and people getting used to them and used to paying $9.95 a month for it.
Annandale, Va:
Re: 'cool jazz' - you never actually answered the question I posed two weeks ago. Is there simply no market in the D.C area for a 'Cool Jazz' station to return to the air? (What 100.3 used to play before being taken over by Big Oldies.)
Frank Ahrens: Huh. Tell me the distinction between the "cool jazz" you're talking about and the "smooth jazz" played by WJZW (105.9), which is quite popular.
Arlington, Va.:
Frank,
As a teenager here in Washington, I can remember AM 1260 WWDC and the Johnny Holiday morning show. When my father drove me to school we could listen interference free from on 95 in Maryland all around the Maryland side of the beltway. I can remember the reception was very acceptable for an AM station.
What happened to AM? did stations lower their wattage because the band got too crowded? Did the FCC require lower antenna heights?
It seems to me AM was better sounding 15 or 20 years ago.
Also, what is hapeening in Digital AM that will allow AM stations to transmit CD Quality sound? Is this ever going to happen?
Frank Ahrens: This is an interesting question. I will put a supposition out there and then defer to my more scientifically knowledgeable guests (O Dubya, Where Art Thou?). I'm guessing there's more stuff in the air now--pagers, cell fons, microwaves, etc.--that would interfere with AM signals. As you know, AM picks up crap faster than FM; which is why, if you're listening to AM in your car with the motor running and you turn off the motor, the station sounds better. Also, directionally, I believe the AM signals in this area tend to point north-south (hence your good reception on I-95), but the area grew east-west, which is why most of the people have a harder time listening to AM where they eventually ended up living. As for digital, Ibquity, a local company, is charged with providing the technolgoy that would enable over-the-air stations to broadcst their signals digitally, and, as they say, "make AM sound like FM and FM sound like CDs." Ibquity is testing at some stations (WTOP, WHFS, WETA, so forth) but I don't think anyone can put a hard date on when the changeover will happen. Further, you the listener will need a new digital radio to hear the digital broadcasts.
20814:
I think the distiction between cool jazz and
smooth jazz is that cool jazz is boring, and
smooth jazz is even more boring.
Frank Ahrens: Hahahahaha!!! This outa stir up the smooth/cool/lite jazz fans.
Annandale, Va (re: cool jazz):
less Kenny G and R&B, more fusion (jazz with a more rock-like rhythm).
Frank Ahrens: Sorry, Annandale, saw the other posting first. I see your point. I think the big companies think the appetite for that sound is sufficiently satisfied with Smooth Jazz 105.9. The big companies are killing niches within big formats (hence, killin the Jamn Oldies format); it's hard for me to imagine them busting out a niche format of a smaller niche format (lite/smooth jazz).
D.C.:
How is the Greaseman's show going? Is his career on life support, or is there good potential for someone to pick him up.
BTW, for all Napster junkies, he has some great stuff on there to download.
Frank Ahrens: Got an e-mail from Doug "Greaseman" Tracht the other day, to wit: "these days i'm on in DC, balt, portland,
binghamton, ocean city, and today i start in altoona....schweeeet."
His strategy is to pick up as many small markets as he can, charging a couple thousand bucks a month to offset the roughtly $12,000 a month he's paying to put himself on the air in D.C., then hopefully, latch on with a big syndicate.
Rockville,:
Frank,
Why don't we hear more live versions of songs on the air? For instance, Pearl Jam's "Better Man" live was the first version on the air a few years ago, then the studio came out and that's all we hear. The live one is much stronger. Same with "Ants Marching" by Dave Mathews, although the live version still makes an appearance. Do record labels not want live versions on air or is it the over-formatted radio stations that can't squeeze them in?
Frank Ahrens: That is a really excellent question that I don't even have a guess at. But let me put this out there and perhaps one of our local program directors who lurk in this discussion can answer it by the end of the hour...
Arlington, Va.:
Hey Frank, why does WTEM switch from Mike & Mike (ESPN) at 9:00 a.m. to Tony Bruno (Fox Sports)?
Frank Ahrens: I'm guessing because WTEM is not an ESPN or FOX station, it's a Clear Channel station and, as such, buys the programming it finds cheapest/best/most appropriate to the time. So they buy from whoever's selling--ESPN, FOX, whoever...
Washington, D.C.:
Hi Frank. What's the status of on-line transmission of local radio station broadcasts? I know there was a flap over advertising, so many stations were pulled. When will I get to listen to my radio station in my deep-in-the-pit office again?
Frank Ahrens: Maybe not for a long time. The backstory is this: The union that represents commercial actors signed a contract with advertising agencies last fall that said if an actor's radio commercial is also played on that station's Internet broadcast, he/she gets an addition three times his/her paycheck. Naturally, advertisers revolted, saying that's too much, and asking radio stations to pull their ads off of their Internet broadcasts. Technically unable to do this, thousands of radio stations simply took down their Web broadcasts. Now, the radio chains are working with technology provicers to "split" the broadcasts, enabling radio stations to play a commercial over the air, but to prevent it from going out on the Web broadcast; sort of like a mute button. But this won't happen fast. Further, there is the question of roylaties: The U.S. Copywright Office ruled that if a radio station plays Song X over the air and then at the saem time on its Webcast, it needs to pay the singer DOUBLE the royalties. The radio companies have sued the recording industry over this. So there's two hurdles to clear before you get Webcasting back. Non-music talk stations will be the first to return, since they don't play songs.
Baltimore, Md.:
For those of you looking for a AAA station, check out 91.1 WHFC. They are located in Bel Air, Md. and can be picked up most places north of Baltimore. They have a coutdown show on Saturday evenings from 7-9 hosted by Jeff Baxter which plays the top 20 songs in adult alternative music...it's called the Adult Alternative Music Weekly. They are on the web too at www.adultalternativemusic.com
Yes, I'm the producer and this is shameless self-promotion but it's worth a listen!
Frank Ahrens: I'll put in a shameless plug when I've heard the product. Thanks fro writing.
Alexandria, Va.:
I just have to say that I think Z104 is going to have real problems retaining an audience with their new morning guy Dylan. Guy's a joke. He can't seem to decide whether he wants to be a jokester like Elliot or cutesy warm and fuzzy like Jack D. His show relies heavily on caller participation, which is Jack's bread and butter. But when Dylan tries to be edgy, a la Elliot, he lacks both the raunch and the nerve to pull it off.
Just my $.02... curious to hear others' opinions.
Frank Ahrens: I had lunch with Guy "Dylan" Patton yesterday. He told me he is going for a female audience, because he sees it as a niche. His closest competitors--Elliot on DC101 aims for men, and Jack Diamond on Mix 107.3 skews a little older for women, as Patton sees it. Further, inasumch as he works for Z104, which is owned by Bonneville, which is owned by the Mormon Church, there's only so blue he can get. He told me he'll be edgy but not raunchy. Further, Z104 is looking for a sidekick to bounce material off of Patton. Patton has done standup and spends time writing material and doing bits, unlike a lot of morning shows who seem to walk in the studio at 5:59 a.m., open the paper and read it.
Disco Stu:
I miss Jammin' 99.5! There doesn't seem to be any 1970s disco on the radio anymore. Can you recommend a station for Disco Stu??
Frank Ahrens: Disco Stu, you jive turkey, you're up a tree without a paddle, my man. Your only bet for hoppin' oldies in town now is Majic 102.3, which doesn't hit disco as much as Jam'n Oldies used to. Otherwise, I'd have to send you to the Internet to look for such stations elsewhere in teh country you can listen to on the Internet. Start here:
www.radio-directory.com
search by format.
Glover Park:
Bit of a nerdy question (perhaps for OW's new Airless Cube Chat):
What's the best AM antenna for night-time distant listening? I've got a GE Superadio, which holds its own pretty well, but I'd like to be able to get a little more out of it. Your baseball chart last week got me enthused to try and pull in more stations.
Frank Ahrens: Good question. Let's put it out there, assuming your're not correct and O Dubya makes like a breakaway former Soviet Republic and sets up his own discussion. Then, we'll have to unremember him from history (down the Memory Hole!).
Re: non-local jocks:
Frank-
Listeners do accept stations without local on-air talent, at least in some markets. I used to work in a station in a small midwestern market that was all satellite-based oldies programming. The listeners that called occasionally might ask to talk to the DJ...and we just told them that he was busy. The station was otherwise well-regarded and popular, and people seemed happy enough with meeting a promo staff at events.
Frank Ahrens: Thanks for the dispiriting posting. Sigh. Sometimes it's frustrating covering such an innately deceptive medium...
Arlington, VA:
Oh, Phil Henride does voices, does he? I heard the show and thought the "guest" he had on was particularly buffoonish. Now I realize it was all a put-on. But here was the "joke": A girl calls in to criticize the "guest's" view advocating that kids bring guns to school, saying she's a Christian and that the idea of going to school with a bunch of kids carrying weapons really worries her. The "guest" then says she'd feel awfully good if, one day, a classmate opened fire, and she was able to bring him down with her own firearm, and "see him bleedin' all over the floor."
The girl was horrified at the suggestion. Phil pretended to be "moderating" the discussion, expressing mock horror at the "guest's" views. Some might see this as witty social commentary, but I'm a Second Amendment Gun-rights kind of guy, and I thought the show was abominable. I turned it off. Learning now that it was all part of Phil's shtick doesn't make me want to tune in again. Not in the least.
Frank Ahrens: Thanks for the input. This is what Hendrie does, and the station tells me they're starting to run some disclaimers explaining Hendrie's methods. I think, btw, he uses his "fake guests" as strawmen spouting unreasonable points of view to show their folly. I don't mind the device; I think it's clever. Listeners just need to know what's going on.
Woodbridge, Va.:
Frank, I've always wondered this: I listen to WTOP and occasionally they'll run commercials for, say, Comanche helicopters or some other major Defense Department type piece of equipment. And I wonder, why are they advertising these things? Are we being encouraged to go out and buy a Comanche? Not that it wouldn't help with the traffic situation around here...
Frank Ahrens: Hahaha! Wouldn't it be great to commute to work in a gunship! "Outa my way! (Ack-ack-ack-ack-ack!) I love the smell of burning Camrys in the morning!"
The reason is this: This is Washingotn D.C., and members of House and Senate appropriates committees, etc. etc. listen to radio here, news radio, talk radio, esp. Don Imus, which is why you'll hear ads for the F-22 on his show. They are not aimed at you or me; they are aimed at the congressfolk who control the pursestrings on govt./military spending.
Farfaix, Va.:
A punchy nomination: those XO Communication commercials where the speaker is supposed to be the president of 'Megatelco'. They're all quite annoying, especially the one where the talk's real slow. I get it, it's supposed to be annoying because the speaker is a fictional competitor to XO, but still, quite irritating.
Frank Ahrens: Good nomination; I agree. I'm collecting string, as the Second Annual Punchies (the award given out by The Listener to the worst commercials on radio) are coming up this summer. THanks.
Takoma, Washington, D.C.:
Hi,
Can you give me a general overview of the Spanish stations in D.C., particularly the FM ones? Are there any FM Spanish stations that have talk programs? Also, what are the Spanish language FM and AM stations. Thanks!
Frank Ahrens: I could, but it would take a lot of space, so I refer you to Dave Hughes' Web site, www.dcrtv.com, which has descriptive capsules of all the local radio stations. Once you hit his Web site, click on FM Stations and AM Stations, and you'll see a description of the format and a nice bit of history on every station we can hear around here. I will tell you that, here in D.C., in Spanish language, we have talk, and a variety of music--Mexican, Caribbean, etc.
Re: XM/Sirius:
I'd be interested in those services for my home as well. Are they addressing that market?
Frank Ahrens: Yes. XM is partnered with Sony, which plans an in-home and I think even a boombox satellite radio at some point. Perhaps Sirius has the same deal.
Woodbridge 22193:
Frank,
First off Hot 99.5 wants to be a clone of WKTU New York, Not new York's legendary Z100. Secondly, and relatedly in the last New York book Z100 beat WKTU by only a few points. Even though these stations I believe are co-owned. That might give Z104 down here a prayer (as to a pun there, use your interpretation).
As to "Disco Stu"- try Mix 107.3's "Retro Saturday Night"
Frank Ahrens: Well, both NYC's WKTU and Z100 are owned by Clear Channel, which owns Hot 99.5, so take your pick of which box they're pulling their radio out of...
Thanks for tip on Retro Saturday...had forgotten about it. It's on from 8 p.m. to midnight.
Greenbelt, Md.:
Gen-X-Gurl here...
How is my favorite studly 30 something Postie today? Did you shave off the peach fuzz yet or did your cat do the job for you?
Trust me, ditch the facial hair as presently construed.
Ok radio... I've been keeping up with the chats. Big radio taking over, seems inevitable, no more indies etc. UNTRUE! I will agree largely with that in major markets, but in minor markets mom and pop radio thrives! Case in point where I worked last summer in the heartland of America. Total mom and pop all the way. It will remain so for a long time. Ditto the other local stations in that area. Granted they are weak sister, largely AM with some smaller power FM, but they are totally indie.
While I never worked in a station 20 years ago - heck I was not around then - My experiences there had to be virtually identical. The owners there know the other small station owners in the state, they have their own association and they are decent size in its numbers. I presume the same holds for other non major market numbers.
Now re: local radio, Clear Channel and its moves, do you think Frankie poo that they are on the right track? They have so totally shifted AM around, I think they have throughly confused the listeners. Personally, I think they should have gone to FM talk on one station.
Re: TEM, are they giving Rome his hour? He alluded to it the other day.
Finally, do you think there is ANY chance of a format change on MZQ? Either a change in country focus or a total change? The numbers tell the tale don't they?
My question Frankie is blonds or redheads? Tee hee though I already know the answer.
Better yet ..... tube tops or sundresses?
Summer weather wet red kisses.
Frank Ahrens: Like an oasis in a desert, Gen X Gurl appears, shimmering like a mirage.
Let's see, answering your questions:
1) I think Hot 99.5 will work IF the station develops an identity with local jocks, good promotions, etc. It's a good moneymaking format and I think it will also make its rival, Z104, better.
2) On the AM side, the new talker WTNT has a weak signal and I don't know that it's grabbed Washington. There ought to be promotion that tells listeners, "Here's somethign special we've given you" rather than "Here's another way we're filling airtime."
3) Rome's goddam Third Hour is on from 9-10 p.m.
4) Hard to imagine WMZQ switching formats. They're a heritage station (long time, same format) and moreover, they're the only big country signal in this market, which still has distinctly Southern elements. It would seem foolish.
5) I don't discriminate by hair color.
6) But I do by apparal: spaghetti straps.
Finally, she makes a good point: I was just remarking to someone the other day that the real variety in radio can be heard in smaller markets, counterintuitively. This is because the stakes are much lower and the big cities are all owned by by the big chains, which don't quite have every mom-and-pop station yet.
Good to hear from you; glad you've got good news.
Dupont Circle:
A Punchy nomination: WTOP's self-promotion ads, claiming our favorite radio station doesn't play "SONGS!" That word sounds like the obnoxious tone of voice I used as a kid to piss off my parents.
Frank Ahrens: Here's why they do that: WTOP did audience testing, where they brought a bunch of people into a room and asked them questions about WTOP. They were asked: Do you listen to WTOP? Oh, yes, they said, we get our news and traffic. Yes, all the time. They, they were asked to write down the names of the radio stations they listen to. Nobody wrote down WTOP. Why, they were asked? Well, WTOP's not a radio station; radio stations play songs. WTOP is a news and traffic-provider thingy sort of something...ARGH! So WTOP needs to educate its listeners, who will get Arbitron ratings books, that WTOP IS A RADIO STATION THAT IF YOU LISTEN TO IT YOU OUGHT TO WRITE IT DOWN IN YOUR ARBITRON DIARY. Fascinating, isn't it?
Alex., Va.:
No question, just a big thanks for publishing that list of AM stations that broadcast baseball games! I had no idea I could (just barely) pick up 660 AM and now I can listen to my beloved Mets any time after dark. You ROCK!
Frank Ahrens: Am so glad to spread the gospel. Go forth and sin no more, my child.
WTOP:
For the person looking for a good AM Antenna, try the Terk AM Advantage. Available at Radio Shack. Our engineers here are impressed with it.
Frank Ahrens: Thanks very much, Jim.
Downtown D.C.:
Re: Stations that use 'phantom' DJs...I think that's a real cop-out! Plus, DJs need to be more involved in the tone of their shows and what music (whatever genre) they play. Listners want someone they can connect with and who is part of the community, don't they? More hands-on DJs in the area would be a good thing, in my humble opinion.
Frank Ahrens: Yes, yes, yes. You speak the truth. Can't agree more. This is where black stations, like WPGC, WKYS, WMMJ, WHUR have it all over their 'white' counterparts. They are out there in the community.
Wash, D.C.:
What do you think of Howard Stern's ratings
drop in NYC? How did he do here in today's book?
Frank Ahrens: Either very interesting or a blip. Stern dropped out of the top morning show spot in teh NYC ratings for the first time since 1994 (didn't see who replaced him). This could be a signal that Stern is slipping, or it might not. I'm always reluctant to write the Stern obit, unlike some of my colleagues at other papers, simply because he is such a huge star, such a powerful earner, such a trendsetter and still has a massive cume audience. Let's wait another ratings book to see what happens...
A Reston Hallway:
Frank,
Long time reader, first time submitter (is that a word?).
I was curious if any area stations play any live music, especially small shows from local bands (i.e. Fighting Gravity, etc.)?
Thanks for your unique insight!
Frank Ahrens: Check out Dave Marsh's "Now Hear This" Sunday nights on WHFS (99.1) from 9 to 10:30 p.m. It's as close as you're gonna get.
Washington:
Hi Frank. I was channel surfing this AM and heard a woman who seems to be new on WHUR and she was very funny. There was a new guy too. Are they just trying out or will they be on all the time?
Frank Ahrens: That's the (semi) new morning team of John Monds, just hired from Chicago, and T.C. Bandit, who's been there for a couple of months.
Gaithersburg, Md.:
Hello,
Howard Stern always crows about his ratings, and claims Imus, Rush and Dr. Laura don't have ratings like his. How do they really stand?
Frank Ahrens: The last time Talkers Magazine, which covers the talk-radio industry, tallied things up, the rankings went like this nationally:
1) Rush
2) Dr. Schlessinger
3) Stern
all in the 10-15 million per week range, for listeners.
Wash., D.C.:
Kind of a random question here, but since a lot of stations stopped broadcasting over the internet - I had to hunt to find a classical station to listen to at work. I found one in Toronto that is still broadcasting over the Net. My question - is there a school where classical DJ's go to all sound alike? It's a nice voice and all, but this guy in Toronto sounds EXACTLY like the WGMS guy - it's kind of creepy.
Second, is there any update on this internet broadcast thing? It's really annoying to have nearly half the stations I listen to at work be unavailable.
Thanks, and Happy Tuesday!
Frank Ahrens: Funny posting...like all NPR folks sound the same. For classical statoins on the Internet, see the earlier posting for www.radio-directory.com. Also, I've got a pretty exhaustive answer to the Webcasting question elsewhere in the discussion....
Not an AFTRA Guy, But a Radio Guy:
Actually, according to AFTRA's web site, a performer is not supposed to be paid 3 times the normal amount for a commercial played over the net, but an extra $660 for one year's use of a commercial on the Internet. AFTRA claims this is a bargain because there is a potential worldwide (unlimited) audience and the same performer would get paid $1,317 for a year's worth of use of a commercial that would be heard in NYC, where there's a potential listening base of 14 million.
I agree a performer should get paid for the extra use of his or her work, and I see AFTRA claims that the developing technology of the Internet is the reason for its "discounting" the fee. The problem I have with this logic is that streaming media is in such an infancy that even the stations with the best technology can only serve about 15,000 listeners at a time over the net before others are unable to connect. If a performer gets $1,317 for a commercial that could be heard by 14 million people, that's $.00009 per potential listener. If you take that same amount and multiply it by the potential 15,000 listeners on the Internet at any time, the fee should be $1.35 per year's use of the commercial,not $660. I guess the argument for AFTRA is that each time the commercial is played there is a potential for a brand new 15,000 people to be listening, but that's unrealistic. Most stations never reach their limit of Internet listeners, and most of a station's listeners on the net are repeat listeners.
Frank Ahrens: Good posting. Thanks much. Will check out AFTRA site (AFTRA is the union that represents radio performers) when I do a follow-up as stations struggle to find an answer to this.
LAWYERS!!!:
Gen-X-Gurl in a tube top?
Be still our hearts. Would that we had Ahrens eyes who have seem the promised land.
Frank Ahrens: And here they come, out of the woodwork.
Your sly intimations won't work; nothing will be revealed.
Herndon, Va.:
Three middle aged career moms calling in with a message for Gen X Gurl.
Young lady, please do not stay away so long again ever! We miss you and hope all is well with you and yours.
Heck, if it wasn't for you, and Dubya, this would be, well, just Frank.
Not that there is anything wrong with that!
We live vicariously however, through Frank's dream girl Gen-X.
Frank Ahrens: Suddenly, this discussion is slipping out of my hands....
Dogma-N:
Hiya Frank,
Today's music question: favorite post-Beatle solo album?
To keep an eye on: KPIG's webdsite makes mention of the sudden dea(r)th of streaming, and claims to have gotten something called "hilite" which allows it to send local advertising through the air and net advertising through the stream. The web site gives some info and promises more. How is all this stuff about streaming going to affect the echos and spinners of the web? Thanks
Frank Ahrens: Good point. I tuned into KFOG from SanFran the other day and, where commercials would usually appear, they played dentists' office music (a-ha! Music of Your Life is not dead!) and an announcement telling listeners why they weren't hearing commercials. This all just shows what a maturing piece of engineering the Web is, and how all the high-flying techno-ecstasy still gets shot down by old-economy mundane issues, like labor deals.
Fav post-Beatles solo album, I guess, would be a Wings compilation, if that's not cheating. (Okay, okay--props to Double Fantasy).
Frank Ahrens: That's gonna do it for today, folks. Excellent questions. Today saw the re-apperance of Gen X Gurl (and, regrettably, attendent Lusting Lawyers) but the notable, and might I add highly suspicious absence of O Dubya, whom I suspect of either preparing to launch a rival discussion, which I will hold up in court for decades, or whom has heard some Distant Early Warning signal that we have not heard and is already hunkered down in his bunker. Either way, we're toast.
See you next week.
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