Humor – Page 2 – Engineering Radio

WVWA Nine Double Oh Radio

It seems branding and programming issues are a long-running problem for radio stations. This is a copy of something that was made at WALL in 1974. It has been circulated extensively in the NY metro market, but perhaps some of you from other areas or countries have not heard of it yet. There is no WVWA 900 in Pound Ridge, it is a fictitious station:

What is hilarious is that the same exact this is still going on forty years later. How many times have programming consultants, program directors, and corporate programming gurus sat around and said “What we really need is a catchy name, like The Buzz or something.” I don’t know how many times I have heard “The X” or “The Eagle” or “fill in stupid name here.” Do the listeners really think “Oh wow, they changed their name, I will listen to this station now!” No, not likely.

The funniest part is; “After more than 100 hours of extensive research… (the programming consultant) developed, refined, molded, polished, honed, shaped and pulled out of left field a revolutions new formatic programing concept…” Play music, say nothing, and scream “NINE!” between each song.

Friday Funnies: Frantic calls

Back when radio stations still had DJs, one would occasionally get the frantic “We off the air” call:

Nowadays, the unemotional monotone computer-generated remote control voice says something like “Alarm, status channel 16, WXYZ silence…” or better still, the answering service.

In some ways, I miss the old days…

Friday Funnies: Networking Edition

I could tell you a joke about UDP,

But you might not get it.

An open message to Linux

Linux, oh Linux! Where have you been all my (adult) life? I know, I know, you have been right there all along, just waiting for me to get out of my Microsoft phase. Day after day, year after year, you have been sitting there thinking; when? When? When will he pay attention to me? Well, I tell you I am through with that old, expensive habit. Sure, Microsoft has Windows and all that, but you have GUI too. Not to mention the wonderful open office suit. Then there is the back end, I have always been a sucker for back ends. Yours is wide open, with no inhibitions, no problems, no hangups. Microsoft? You can’t even look at their back end without an army of lawyers descending upon you with malice and litigation on their minds.

Up front, you seem complicated and high maintenance. But once I got to know you, I found it is just the opposite; so simple and easy to get along with.

No, my Microsoft days are over, I tell you. I feel secure with your Linux like you will adapt to my needs and communicate with me when troubles arise. You won’t let malicious code get in the way of what could be a wonderful relationship. What’s more, there are so many different versions of you, I feel like I can pick and choose operating systems based on what my needs are. Finally, a computer that does what I want it to.

Sincerely,

Paul Thurst