Can You Hear Me Now?

Every once in a while, I'll say to my self "Self, you should really update your blog". Then I respond "Well self - I'll get to it tomorrow". Next thing you know, five months have gone by, you find more gray hairs on your head, and the blog hasn't been updated.

Well - until today.

Anyway - last week I finally got around to getting a new phone. I find that usually getting a new cell phone is a fairly painful process - the tech geek in me loves new technology and is fascinated to go to the store to see what kind of new "gee whiz" gadgets they have out now and test drive the equipment, but my emerging old, cranky side hates to deal with all of the slobbering teenagers who are huddled around the phones, dazed and confused on ritalin and energy drinks, wondering how they can get mommy and daddy to pay for this, all while randomly yelling out "OMG!" and "I love Justin Bieber!"

This time around, my cell phone store experience was pretty lackluster - I pretty much settled on what phone to get beforehand, and the in-store experience was more to make sure there wasn't another cool, "gee whiz" gizmo out there that I would have been kicking myself over if I didn't get it. And there weren't even many teenagers in the store - guess that day there must have been a Red Bull shortage or something.

I gotta say - I've been fascinated with this thing so far. I first got a cell phone (rather reluctantly) back a few years ago when I was doing some overnights at another radio station around here, and didn't want to get stuck somewhere in the middle of nowhere. Back then it was nice to know that you could make a phone call to somebody from anywhere. Now - with texting, mobile internet, and GPS systems - if I don't have instant access to anything or anyone or know where I am, I feel lost. Darn technology :)

Speaking of cell phones - if you have a smartphone, Magic 93 rolled out our very own app recently. The app will let you listen to Magic 93's webstream from anywhere, and also gives you the artist and title of the song playing, as well as song lyrics.

Right now - the Magic 93 app is available for iPhone users in the iTunes store - just search for "Magic 93" or "WMGS" to find the app. If you have a Blackberry, you can log into the Blackberry App World and search for "Magic 93", or just click here. If you have an Android device (like I do), the Magic 93 App is on the way for it - it's still in development the last time I heard about it ("in development" - I found out - being corporate-speak for "we'll get it done soon - shut up about it and stop bothering us"). We're hoping to roll that out soon.

Hope you enjoy the app - if you have any comments or questions about it, feel free to drop me a line at joe (at) magic93fm.com.

Hope you have a great holiday season - I'll try to update this blog again soon (well - at least before next July).

Joe

A Little YouTube Find

I ran across this video today about the making and production of 10cc's "I'm Not In Love". I thought it was fascinating, but I'm a little bit of a geek when it comes to music production.

I figured I'd share this, so next time you hear this song on the "Magic Flashback Weekend", you'll understand what went into making this song.

Shameless Plug Alert!

If you've been listening to Michael Neff on the morning show over the last few days, you probably heard Frankie's "Meet The Staff" interviews. Well - on Thursday's show, it's going to my turn to answer a few questions.

We taped this a few days ago, and I honestly think it's the only time in my life that I've ever been interviewed (well - at least without a lawyer present. No - really - I'm just kidding about that. I always represent myself :)

So - as a shameless plug - if your tune into Thursday's morning show, you'll get a chance to "Meet Joe Rae". Hope you enjoy the interviews.

Keep cool,
Joe

Are There Any Women Here Today?

It hasn't been the best of weeks, and it's been a while since I posted anything here, so I figured that I'd post the funniest scene ever in a movie.

If you've never seen Monty Python's The Life of Brian - go rent it today.

Sweet...

It looks like I have a concert to look forward to this year :)

Link

Roger Waters Taking 'The Wall' On Tour

Pink Floyd founding member Roger Waters is taking the group's album 'The Wall' back on tour in North America later this year.

Pink Floyd founding member Roger Waters is taking 'The Wall' back on tour.

The former bassist in the psychedelic rock band has previously staged the band's show - in which the album 'The Wall' is performed in its entirety while a physical wall is built between the band and the audience - 31 times since it was recorded in 1979, but is now about to embark upon a huge North American tour in support of the album's 30th anniversary.

He told website Spinner: "30 Years ago when I wrote 'The Wall' I was a frightened young man.

"Well, not that young - I was 36 years old. It took me a long time to get over my fears. Anyway, in the intervening years it has occurred to me that maybe the story of my fear and loss with its concomitant inevitable residue of ridicule, shame and punishment, provides an allegory for broader concerns: Nationalism, racism, sexism, religion, whatever!

"All these issues and 'isms are driven by the same fears that drove my young life."

The new production of 'The Wall' - which includes the hits 'Another Brick in the Wall, Part II' and 'Comfortably Numb' - will be state of the art with a new production and backing band.

Waters also promised that despite being 30 years old, the show will still resonate with today's audiences.

He said: "This new production of 'The Wall' is an attempt to draw some comparisons, to illuminate our current predicament, and is dedicated to all the innocent lost in the intervening years."

'The Wall' was largely written by Waters and upon its release was accompanied by a film of the same name. Pink Floyd toured the album in 1980 and 1981 but Waters left the group in 1984.

He then staged a solo version of the show in Berlin, Germany in 1990 to commemorate the falling of the Berlin wall.

Water's latest tour will take in dates across the US and Canada between September and December this year.

For more information visit www.roger-waters.com

Why - Yes

I had to share this. And yes - there was alcohol involved:

http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/10085/1045894-100.stm

Police: Man tried to revive dead possum; alcohol involved

Police said a man will be charged with public drunkenness after a witnesses saw him attempting mouth-to-mouth resuscitation on a road-killed opossum.

State police said they charged Donald Wolfe, 55, of Brookville, Jefferson County, after they arrived at the scene on Route 36 in Oliver Township around 3 p.m. Thursday.

Trooper Jamie Levier said several witnesses saw Mr. Wolfe near the animal. The trooper said one person saw Mr. Wolfe kneeling before the animal and gesturing as though he were conducting a seance, while another saw the mouth-to-mouth attempt.

Trooper Levier said Wolfe was "extremely intoxicated" and "did have his mouth in the area of the animal's mouth, I guess."

Did You Ever...

I just have to vent for a moment here...

Did you ever have a day at work when it seems that the phone won't stop ringing, and it's all companies looking to sell you something? I just can't seem to get them off the phone either. I had a call today from a company trying to sell me data services, and you really would think that after 10 minutes on the phone when I started off as being nice and now I'm clearly getting annoyed, finally telling her "I have no control or input into our vendors", "we're happy with our current provider", and "I have another call that I have to take", you'd pretty much say "thanks" and move on. I guess not though - let's just keep Joe on the line a little longer and see if we can waste more time.

Whew - ok, that feels good to vent. Thanks for listening. See you on the air tonight.

(afternoon update - the vendor called back:

Rep: "Hi Joe - we were cut off before so I wanted to call back and finish our survey!"
Me: "We weren't cut off. I hung up on you." *click*)