Write Lightning is a blog from writer Deb Thompson.
Everyone is welcome here.
(Some links or topics may not be completely kid-appropriate.)
Everyone is welcome here.
(Some links or topics may not be completely kid-appropriate.)
Sat, May 22 2004
Jesus Saves, But Free Radio Santa Cruz And The FCC Are Still In A Headlock
The recent war on the airwaves in Santa Cruz has apparently been unintentional. A Christian radio network called Air 1 has been broadcasting on KSRI (scroll down to their call letters for audio streaming) at 90.7 on the FM dial. Community station Free Radio Santa Cruz (termed a pirate station in certain circles) was broadcasting at nearby 96.3 FM. Because of the nature of airwaves, it seems that these 2 stations have been inadvertently sending quite a mixed message to their respective listeners in the mid-county area. One might hear political messages and profanity peppered interspersed with lyrics and music from Christian praise songs. In the spirit of cooperation FRSC decided to move its digs to 101.1 FM. I think it's going to work better for the two stations, but it probably won't get the FCC off FRSC's back. It seems to me that letting the stations negotiate their own solutions in a local community environment makes the most sense, and that the FCC need bother itself only in the event that there is a conflict that cannot be resolved. Their position should be more as an arbitrator than a dictator. The agency has take strong stands against what they consider to be pirate radio, even though some very famous musicians have used the services of these types of stations to share their music. I do wish these government agencies could somehow be populated with people who remember that they are there merely to serve the public--not the other way around.
posted at: 12:16 | category: /Politics | link to this entry
The recent war on the airwaves in Santa Cruz has apparently been unintentional. A Christian radio network called Air 1 has been broadcasting on KSRI (scroll down to their call letters for audio streaming) at 90.7 on the FM dial. Community station Free Radio Santa Cruz (termed a pirate station in certain circles) was broadcasting at nearby 96.3 FM. Because of the nature of airwaves, it seems that these 2 stations have been inadvertently sending quite a mixed message to their respective listeners in the mid-county area. One might hear political messages and profanity peppered interspersed with lyrics and music from Christian praise songs. In the spirit of cooperation FRSC decided to move its digs to 101.1 FM. I think it's going to work better for the two stations, but it probably won't get the FCC off FRSC's back. It seems to me that letting the stations negotiate their own solutions in a local community environment makes the most sense, and that the FCC need bother itself only in the event that there is a conflict that cannot be resolved. Their position should be more as an arbitrator than a dictator. The agency has take strong stands against what they consider to be pirate radio, even though some very famous musicians have used the services of these types of stations to share their music. I do wish these government agencies could somehow be populated with people who remember that they are there merely to serve the public--not the other way around.
posted at: 12:16 | category: /Politics | link to this entry
Krispy Kreme Again
Awhile back I mentioned the odd media references to Krispy Kreme doughnuts being just a fad. It looks like Rick Aristotle Munarriz of Motley Fool agrees with me to some extent. He and I do have one basic area where we part ways. He likes the Krispy Kreme doughnuts being in grocery stores. I think this marketing move cheapened the whole hot-off-the-line exclusivity of the product. It took away the ritual of going to the shops themselves and having that experience as part of the adventure. If Rick thinks Kripsy Kreme should have a signature gourmet coffee blend, I have no argument, and they could certainly market that in grocery stores with great success. But they need to get the not-hot-off-the-line doughnuts out of the grocery stores and do with doughnuts what they do best--hand them to you fresh off the production line while you are surrounded by the aroma of the ingredients while they are so fresh and fluffy that they collapse and melt in your mouth when you bite into one.
posted at: 08:03 | category: /Food | link to this entry
Awhile back I mentioned the odd media references to Krispy Kreme doughnuts being just a fad. It looks like Rick Aristotle Munarriz of Motley Fool agrees with me to some extent. He and I do have one basic area where we part ways. He likes the Krispy Kreme doughnuts being in grocery stores. I think this marketing move cheapened the whole hot-off-the-line exclusivity of the product. It took away the ritual of going to the shops themselves and having that experience as part of the adventure. If Rick thinks Kripsy Kreme should have a signature gourmet coffee blend, I have no argument, and they could certainly market that in grocery stores with great success. But they need to get the not-hot-off-the-line doughnuts out of the grocery stores and do with doughnuts what they do best--hand them to you fresh off the production line while you are surrounded by the aroma of the ingredients while they are so fresh and fluffy that they collapse and melt in your mouth when you bite into one.
posted at: 08:03 | category: /Food | link to this entry
