AM 1170

Upon the news that he had been dropped I had to comment that the immutable Mark Steyn will rise again. It is curious that his apparent ignominy would be realized at the exact same moment of clarity for the Telegraph and the Spectator. Perhaps a more pedestrian reason will surface, such as his press agent demanding exorbitant fees or some such.

To this days the British government taxes each television set and this strange practice seems to parallel the potential for muting freedom of speech, at least it certainly gives the government a leg up on control of content. It is the relative success of this government information monopoly that makes me fear of a UN/EU/UK internet tax. If such a thing should come about we’ll all be screwed. Perhaps they will have free information of the government sort and a highly taxed information like the Steyn or the Wretchard tax. But here in the states free speech seems to be doing well. We have the Public Broadcasting Service that, though government subsidized, does a fair job of giving balanced news. Particularly shows like Frontline, though with a vaguely left taint, do admirably well. It is little surprise that the most left wing, BS propaganda comes directly out of the UK in the form of the BBC. During the most trying events in Iraq the Beeb has been just awful. Fortunately, the US public has the free opportunity to get it’s news elsewhere and PBS must walk the tight rope of consumer demand. Pledge drives have become more frequent, and overt commercials are subsumed in near infomercials that thank the grants and thoughtful patronage of the sponsor that makes these shows possible, along with viewer contributions.

We inhabitants of Southern California get much of our radio beams from Mexico. US radio station giants like Clear Channel Communications buys their RF energy from AM blow torches south of the border who made their entry into the market by having their own rules that flouted the US FCC. They are now pretty much mainstream, with the exception of occasional propaganda from the Mexican government, and an obligatory ovation of the Mexican national anthem at midnight.

A few summers back I spent the summer in the mountains of central California. Amazingly enough, I was able to get crystal clear reception of a LA radio station (AM 1170 KNX) that played old radio dramas every night at 9:00pm. So, huddled in my tent, in the pitch black I would listen to the various radio dramas of lore with the grand finale Sunday night, the Lux Radio Theater, hosted by Cecil B. DeMille. I was alone in the wilderness and in this odd crucible, transported back to a time where the radio was everyone’s common link to civilization. Phantom of the Opera with Basil Rathbone was preternatural and Jack Benny on Saturday nights was always a pleaser.

Mon. Tales of the Texas Rangers -Sherlock Holmes
Tues. Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar - Sgt. Preston of the Yukon.
Wed. Dragnet - The Whistler.
Thurs. Nightbeat (was Adventures of Sam Spade- The Lone Ranger.
Fri. Gunsmoke - Suspense.
Sat. The Jack Benny Program - Fibber McGee & Molly. -Hall of Fame Radio Hour
Sun. Lux Radio Theater

Todays radio show is the blog. It may not live up to the standards of a bygone era when communication times were simpler, but it is undeniably democratic and, as such, excellence is self seeking.