BlatherWatch

Repent! the world ends today

Repent! the world ends tomorrow

Old Seattle Radio, er, Friday: the 7 terrible tigers

What with The Rapture, and all, we're running this irregular Saturday feature early...

KOL/Feb. 1962

Home of the 7 Terrible Tigers, including:

Al Cummings -- 5-9a
Art Simpson-- 9a-12p
Ron Bailie-- 12-3p
John Stone -- 3-6p
Gary Todd -- 6-9p
Les Williams -- 9p-12a
Tom Phelan -12-5a

A former New Orleans DJ named Lan Roberts had been one of the Tigers in 1961 before heading to KJR.

Gary Todd returned to KOL in 1967. (Thanks, Bill Taylor)

Cliff Mass, 1996-2011 RIP

Cliff Mass has been dumped from KUOW's Weekday with Steve Scher (m-f,9a-12p).
 
He's the UW meteorologist who got to talk about the weather each Friday at 10a. Problem is, he couldn't just let it go at that.

KUOW's Steve Scher says it's because he shot off mouth once too often on a variety of subjects, not the least of which was education. We remember his provocatively-espoused, but briefly-held agnosticism about global warming a few years ago that had local wingers all in a glow.

The man loves to controverse. On the other hand, KUOW can't stand controversy.

Local right-wingers are already comparing Mass to Fox News' professional NPR victim, Juan Williams.

Scher Facebooked: "Over time Cliff began inserting his opinion on a wider range of issues outside of science and weather, most notably education."

Scher goes on to say that his show (and the station) has plenty of diversity of opinion on a wide variety of issues, and from a weather guy, they want weather.

"I spoke with Cliff on several occasions about my concerns but Cliff disagreed that his science and weather segment should not include his views about other subjects. As a result I have decided to terminate Cliff’s weather and science segment. We will continue to look at other ways to involve Cliff on Weekday that will allow him to share his expertise on other issues."

(Aren't you glad KOMOTV's Steve Pool doesn't shoot his mouth off about topics more controversial than when to pot the primroses?)

This is bound to have some backlash, Mass's weather stuff, when not supersized with his opining, was informative and well-put. And he has a voice like a superhero.

Read his rather windy side of the story here.

He uses Rick Steves as an example as a KUOW contributor who espouses opinions on other topics than his field of interest, travel. Problem is, Steves sticks to the subject dujour- if he's there to talk about travel (or doing his syndicated travel show) he talks about travel. If he's there about legalizing pot, he's there about legalizing pot.

Mass appeared on Weekday to talk climate and weather.

He hints darkly in his blog at conspiracies between the Seattle Times, KUOW and the UW's Education Department.

Please.

Professor Mass: You're the weather babe... except with a Ph.d. In real broadcast media, when the weather babe starts talking about sports, she's outa there.

Producers get to make such calls. Sounds like you got a few more chances than the average weather babe.

People talk about the weather so much because it's famously one of the least controversial topics there is: maybe you're simply in the wrong field. Maybe it's time to revisit the ol' Myers-Briggs.

Fisher hostile take-over thwarted: is this good or bad?

 We're not sure if, ultimately, this is good news or what, but Fisher Communications' (KOMO KOMOTV, KVI Star 101) shareholders elected two of their own to the board, and two from hedge funders who wanted to take over and sell off the deeply troubled company.

Dorothy parvaz speaks...

Read her account, and see her interviewed here.

Counting down to judgment day: a glimpse behind the scenes

A fascinating visit to the radio studios of May 21, 2011 doomsmith Harold Camping is reported by Jennifer Waits on one of our favorite radio sites, Radio Survivor.

When I visited Family Radio on Thursday, May 12, 89-year-old Camping was leading his final “Family Bible Study” during lunch time. As a diverse group of perhaps 50 people assembled in the studio audience and crews from both Univision and Nightline filmed the action, Camping walked everyone through a number of Bible passages before concluding with a brief question and answer session with the audience. He began the Bible study with a prayer and in it I couldn’t help but notice that he made reference to members of the Family Radio staff who were non-believers. This was my first hint that not everyone in the building was counting down the days until May 21 and it came as a great surprise to me.

As you might expect, Thursday’s final Bible study largely dealt with Judgment Day. Camping said that it would come on Saturday, May 21 at 6pm local time, meaning that wherever you live, it will happen at 6pm. He promised that, “We’re going to be able to see…those who are being raptured” and said that “when you are raptured” you get “eternal life.” He added, “it’s just a fantastic, wonderful gift that we paid nothing for.” But then his Bible study veered into fire and brimstone territory as he said, “When the believers are being raptured” it will be a “final condemnation of those left behind.”

Family Bible Study taping on May 12, 2011 (Photo J. Waits)

Apparently May 21 will signal the beginning of hell on earth for non-believers, as the world won’t actually end until October 21. Camping argued that the people left behind will feel something akin to a “sting of a scorpion” that will be a “final blow” as they realize that others have been raptured and they have not. Camping seemed almost giddy as he anticipated May 21, describing the moment, “When we’re caught up and the world sees us.” He added that when that happens, “God’s judgment is upon them and they are left behind.”

After Bible Study I was able to tour the entire Family Radio operation (see my post on Spinning Indie for more pictures and details about the network). It’s quite a set up with television studios, radio studios, production rooms, printing department, international department (they translate materials into 68 languages), Internet team and mail room. Most of the radio programming originates from the Oakland studio and is run on other stations (including full power AM and FM stations as well as translators) via automation.

As it gets closer to May 21, Family Radio has been working overtime to spread the word not only through their radio and TV broadcasts, but also by a variety of marketing tactics including RV caravan tours across the United States and Canada, billboards, religious tracts, You Tube videos, and free bumper stickers. I also saw numerous people at Family Radio wearing Judgment Day t-shirts and trucker caps, but it’s unclear to me if those are available from the network. When I visited the network’s Internet department I learned that the Family Radio website has been buzzing, with 3.25 million visits in April. Interestingly, I heard that the majority of web traffic has been coming from outside of the United States, with China as one of the biggest non-U.S. countries as far as visitors.

Internet Department at Family Radio on May 12, 2011 (Photo J. Waits)

The mood around the Family Radio offices was joyful as people gathered for lunch in a common room following Bible study. Families with small children milled about and a man who’d traveled from New York for the “final two weeks” took a break in the lobby before hitting the streets with Judgment Day literature. He told me that his family thought he was crazy.

As a practical matter, I was curious about the network’s programming plans after May 21. My tour guide Rosa said that she didn’t know and added that they are “just letting the lord stop it.”

There was a posted sign announcing that Friday, May 20 would be a paid holiday; but there was no mention of the work schedule for the following week. I also heard that programming was generally produced several weeks in advance, so if May 22 does come, there should be material to play. Harold Camping was vague about the future as far as programming goes, but he did admit to me that, “We have a lot of staff who don’t abide us at all and for their sake there’s some programming that’s in the can. But we’ll probably…we certainly will not use it, but for their sake, they think that they might use it.” Despite that, he said that everyone has been helpful and loyal, even if they don’t agree with the prediction about the coming Judgment Day. I asked him what the non-believing staff expected to happen at the network after May 21st and Camping said, “I’m not the CEO. God is the CEO. You have to ask him.” When I asked Camping what his plans were for May 21, he told me that he’d probably be watching TV and listening to the radio to hear about what was happening around the world.

Camping and his followers are resolute in their belief that May 21 is the beginning of the end. According to the tract, “Facts Concerning May 21, 2011,” this date is a certainty. The pamphlet states, “The great amount of Biblical signs and proofs absolutely guarantee Judgment Day is May 21, 2011.” Yesterday, Camping said on Open Forum that “people will be dying by the millions.”

Memo to Family Radio Staffers Regarding May 20 Holiday posted in Oakland Office (Photo J. Waits)

Of course, there are plenty of doubters. Competing billboards from an atheist group proclaim that Judgment Day is false and non-Rapture Day parties are planned. Skeptical callers to “Open Forum” have derided Camping for being a “false prophet” and on Open Forum yesterday, one caller even asked, “Are you on crack cocaine?” Amazingly, this question elicited laughter from Camping, who replied that he’d never done cocaine.

For those who are following Camping, Judgment Day will begin far away from Family Radio headquarters at about 11pm Pacific time on Friday, May 20, 2011. As it will already be 6pm on May 21st in New Zealand, this should mark the beginning of the Rapture. We’ll just have to see if there’s radio silence on May 22 or if Family Radio network continues with their broadcasts.

 

Rich Johnson and the blathe at the palm

(photo: Rich Johnson and The Blathe at The Palm)

WASHINGTON — It was a meeting long overdue: BlatherWatch at a bar with Rich Johnson, Senior Nat'l Correspondent for Fox News Radio, Portland native, and longtime radio newsman whose career has not insignificantly included several stretches in Seattle at KIRO and other stations.

We met Tuesday with Rich at the old  Democratic hangout, The Palm while destroying several unlucky softshell crabs while Rich took on a very large bento box jammed with what passes for meat & potatoes in this town. (not only Democrats hang this join- next to us at the bar: a couple of professionals working on getting the furious Bush UN Ambassador JOHN BOLTON!!!! nominated for president in 2012)

While we can't reveal the high level conversations that transpired, we can say that Chesapeake Bay seafood vs that of Puget Sound was thoroughly discussed; also the intersection of Old Bay seasoning and NASCAR.

 

Welcome home, dorothy parvaz!

Al Jazeera: 

Al Jazeera has confirmed the release of its journalist, Dorothy Parvaz, who was detained in Syria upon her arrival in Damascus nineteen days ago, while on assignment.

During that time she was not allowed any contact with the outside world.  She landed in Doha, Qatar on May 18 on a flight from Iran. 

An Al Jazeera spokesman said: "I'm delighted to let you know that Dorothy Parvaz has been released and is safe and well and back with us in Doha.  She has been in contact with her family, and we are with her now to find out more about her ordeal over the last nineteen days."

Her fiancé Todd Barker, posted on Facebook: "She is safe in Doha and will be coming to Vancouver BC soon. We can't wait to see her."

Barker was with Parvaz's family when he heard the news. Parvaz will be travelling as soon as possible to meet them all.

"We are grateful to the Iranian officials that she was treated well, and she confirmed that," Barker, who is planning on marrying Parvez this summer, told Al Jazeera.

He thanks US and Canadian officials, the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), the international Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and all of those who had rallied in support of his fiancée.

Barker said he was grateful to Al Jazeera for the network's efforts to obtain Parvaz's release.

"It's been a pleasure working with them, as much as it can be," he said. "They were working like nobodies' business on it and we're just ecstatic."

 

Mr. blather goes to washington: the white house press briefing, tuesday, 5-17-2011

WASHINGTON — As a news event- hey, it ain't much. But as hallmark in our peculiar little journalistic career, it's a big deal. 

(photo: Press Secretary Jay Carney welcoming BlatherWatch to the White House)

The White House turned down our request to sit in on the President's meeting with His Majesty King Abdullah II of Jordan, but through the good offices of Sen. Murray (thanks, Eli) and the WH Press Secretary (thank-you, Adam) we attended Tuesday's White House press briefing.

We got to stand around with the big boys and it was good. Very good. It was just plain thrilling for a small-town hack who's meager off-line lifestyle is eating crunchy snacks while plugged into cable teevee and haunting the Sunday shows.

Not much news was made by the answers fielded today by Press Secretary Jay Carney, but we had the thrill of a career by catching his eye while our hand was up waving to be recognized and then... being ignored as have some of the biggest journalistic names of yore in this hallowed journalistic ground.

Yorish giant talking heads like Ed Murrow, Geraldo Rivera, and Sam Donaldson have stood where we stood today to be ignored or overlooked by press secretaries (or Presidents) of yore. (Yore is pretty thick around here, and being a little yorish ourselves, we have the deepest respect for it).

Here's where Jeff Gannon sat proudly and WAS called upon.

(photo: Les Kinsolving cracking up at one of our witty asides)

Though it would have been the apex of our career as a reporter to have been ignored by the POTUS himself, it was truly a humbling experience to be passed over standing shoulder-to-shoulder with such as ABC's Jake Tapper; NPR's Mara Laisson; right-wing gadfly Les Kinsolving; Chip what's-his-name from one of the majors; that skinny kid with the big glasses from the WaPo; ol' who's-it who frequently inhabits Washington Week; that breathless you-know-his-name-Brit who comes on late sometimes on Fox News; the fancy, black, can't-think-of-her-name woman who always fills in for you-know-the-guy on Friday nights on CNN. And so on.  

(photo: ABC's Jake Tapper gives a big "hi" to Blatherwatch)

It was awesome (a word we neither use lightly nor often) to see this journalistic pantheon... and, without their make-up!

(photo: Bill Press and another press corps member were excited to engage with BlatherWatch)

We spied radio host and ace-boom progressive voice, Bill Press (KPTK m-f, 3-6a). As we walked out together, we complained about CBS's neglect of Seattle's KPTK where he's relegated to the back row of the radio graveyard. "Progressive radio always gets the shitty end of the stick," he said. "Totally," we commiserated.

It was like the end of a beautiful dream as we and Bill (we're on the tu-toi now) stumbled out of the White House gate, and into the controlled madness of Pennsylvania Avenue. "See you on the radio," we cried.

He didn't return the jocularity. Guess our heady conversation was too much for him to absorb at one time.