[Ultimo Hombre]

Originally Posted by cracker518

Why are you quoting me? I said I cant stand those mutts. Or did you get fooled by Genes clever little trick? LOL you shouldnt be giving advice.

Because you implied that reading a Hannity book is somehow a major intellectual endevour compared to just listening to him on radio (as you refered to the act of "reading a book" as nothing but "getting someones opinion".)

When I said, "read a book" I was referring to those that are academically researched and sourced. Not an "opinion" book.

All the idiot talk show hosts referenced in this thread spew their unqualified opinions on a host of socio-economic issues. My point was that these listeners need to pull their head out of Hannitys ass and read an actual schloarly analysis of the issues.

Go suck a dick.

[Tom Kazanski]

Originally Posted by Ultimo Hombre

Yes, radio music does suck these days. And so does talk radio. Thanks for the de-regulation FCC!!! We have two major corporations owning most free public airwaves and they get paid by sponsors and record companies to pump out bubble-gum music and equally manufactured talk shows. FM and AM appeal to the lowest common denominator (ie: you).

An Ipod was the best thing I ever bought.

What de-regulation from the FCC? I am ignorant of this.

[Ultimo Hombre]

Originally Posted by Tom Kazanski

What de-regulation from the FCC? I am ignorant of this.

Time was when one media company could only own 10% of the airwaves in a given market. This allowed everybody and their brother to have the opportunity to start their own stations and thus listeners would be exposed to a myrad of different music- most of which was locally grown. From the early days of Rock in Memphis (Elvis, Jerry Lee Lewis, Jonny Cash) to Detroits Mo-Town, to San Francisco's "hippy music", to the last "local organic music scene" that made it big by being introduced on local stations - Grunge. By 1996, though, the Republican Congress began de-regulating this aspect of radio and relaxed the rules to allow a 25% ownership- and by 2003 it was relaxed further to 50%. This allows the "big corporations" to be able to own a monopoloy- and that's exactly what's happened. When one very large company can own 50% of a market, you can imagine how impossible it is for "the little guy" to even attempt to compete... In my market (Toledo, OH), we have 10 stations- 7 of them are owned by Clear Channel Communications or Cumulus Broadcasting. Even local "news" from Clear Channel all comes from a central location in fucking Georgia or something. They use "auto-DJ's" and music that is provided to them by Record Comanies (ie: Ashley Simpson). And now if you or I want real music and news- we have to pay for it on Satellite radio instead of just turning on our car radio.

[WUchi]

where do you people find time to listen to the radio ?

[Tom Kazanski]

Interesting, thanks for taking the time to type that out. I see where you're coming from, but as a capitalist, it's hard for me to agree it's a bad thing. The free market has decided that they will listen to crap. Me? I turned the channel and preach to people whenever they let me about the state of pop radio. The truth is though, most people like that garbage. Let them have it. In the car it sucks, but with the internet there are plenty of avenues to find new music, indie music has blown up since the creation of Napster and Myspace, Pandora, and other venues.

Also, truth be told, satellite radio is a pretty damn good deal when you compare it to the cost of satellite or cable tv.

But I'm not in total disagreement with you, I respect where you're coming from.

[Ultimo Hombre]

Originally Posted by Tom Kazanski

Interesting, thanks for taking the time to type that out. I see where you're coming from, but as a capitalist, it's hard for me to agree it's a bad thing. The free market has decided that they will listen to crap. .

The idea that "the free market" has decided to "accept" this crap is an illusion. 30M or more americans turn on the radio everyday by default. The AM and FM waves have been the main medium for homes and work places forever. Offices, factories, kitchens and cars throughout american turn on AM or FM by default. Before de-regulation and monopolization, if something sucked, you could change the channel until you found something you wanted. But now if it sucks, you have nowhere to change the channel. NO CHIOCE FOR CONSUMERS! How can that be considered "free market". If the radio sucks, you have to turn it off. But having a radio on in our car or office or factory is so ingrained in us that even if you can't find something good, you'll settle for what's on. Nobody is going to sit in silence all day. And not everyone can afford satellite radio or an Ipod. Those AM and FM waves should be for citizens to enjoy, not for corporations to monopolize and profit off of.

I've written about this before and the biggest problem is censorship by these monopolizing corporations. Clear Channel Communications has self-described "conservative" owners- and they used their position to ban the Dixie Chics for their political views. They worked in concert with the FCC to make sure Howard Stern would get kicked off "terrestrial radio". Most recently they deny advertising for books or movies that are critical of conservative policies. The Free Market loved Howard Stern, and the Dixie Chicks, and Harry Shear books. But the "free market" is not at work in our media world.

[TeTe lol Chin]

Originally Posted by Tom Kazanski

Rush Limbaugh - don't care that you think he's an idiot, I don't think he is. very, very entertaining show and there is a reason he is number 1.

Rush FTW

I used to listen to Mancow before Q101 dumped him a couple of years ago. I hear he is still on the radio, but not in Chicago anymore.

[MicroBrew]

Originally Posted by Tom Kazanski

Interesting, thanks for taking the time to type that out. I see where you're coming from, but as a capitalist, it's hard for me to agree it's a bad thing. The free market has decided that they will listen to crap. Me? I turned the channel and preach to people whenever they let me about the state of pop radio. The truth is though, most people like that garbage. Let them have it. In the car it sucks, but with the internet there are plenty of avenues to find new music, indie music has blown up since the creation of Napster and Myspace, Pandora, and other venues.

Also, truth be told, satellite radio is a pretty damn good deal when you compare it to the cost of satellite or cable tv.

But I'm not in total disagreement with you, I respect where you're coming from.

I don't think its a case of people wanting to listen to crap, more like thats whats easily/cheaply accessible. Do Americans in general really only want 2 political parties or is it likely that most people are resigned to the fact that 2 parties control the government so they just go with it.

As for monopolization , as strictly capitalist as it is, it is bad for society. Do you think the government splitting up Ma Bell & Standard oil was good or bad?

[Dizzle]

Originally Posted by TeTe lol Chin

Rush FTW

I used to listen to Mancow before Q101 dumped him a couple of years ago. I hear he is still on the radio, but not in Chicago anymore.

Chicago radio is gay in the mornings now, seriously with drex on 103.5 and that guy that replaced mancow is a flamer.

Mancow is still on the radio in southern Ill, by Carbondale/SIU. Mancow was great but Howard with Artie Lang is great on Sirius. I hated when Howard would talk to pornstars for hours on the radio. Whats the point of talking to a pornstar if you cant see them?

[cracker518]

Originally Posted by Ultimo Hombre

Because you implied that reading a Hannity book is somehow a major intellectual endevour compared to just listening to him on radio (as you refered to the act of "reading a book" as nothing but "getting someones opinion".)

When I said, "read a book" I was referring to those that are academically researched and sourced. Not an "opinion" book.

All the idiot talk show hosts referenced in this thread spew their unqualified opinions on a host of socio-economic issues. My point was that these listeners need to pull their head out of Hannitys ass and read an actual schloarly analysis of the issues.

Go suck a dick.

What you were trying to do is act high and mighty because you apparently read books and wouldnt listen to those uninformed radio hosts. I responded that I can do both, that is, read quality books and listen to quality radio. Like I said I listen to Michael Savage, not Hanity. For such a well-read guy you're having trouble keeping the facts str8.