~ Like calling the aid car for a hemorrhoid? (or maybe vice-versa, in this case) did anyone besides us find KIRO's Monday night calling in the late Frank Shiers and going into full-on Storm Watch 2008 mode a little silly? While it was really nice to hear our close friend, Frank fill in for the syndicated Phil Hendrie who replaced him, (Frank's weather-talking mastery has earned him the nickname,"Shiver,") having all talk off the table except weather sent us to scurrying for Mike Malloy (KPTK m-f,7-10p). Besides, the weather wasn't all that daunting. Apparently, it was snowing on the Issaquah plateau, the mountain passes,north of the Snoho line, and in the wilds of Queen Anne Hill. The commute promised to be daunting, but WTF? Couldn't that have been well-handled on KIRO's many news breaks? Maybe it was to assuage KIRO's guilt for bringing in their first syndication in the weekdayparts and to assure us that they're still here to serve us live & locally. If the latter is true, it was gross overcompensation.
~ The new KIRO website will be all about "community" and shit; and will be up soon, according to everyone. They're lucky to have David Goldstein (Sat., Sun., 7-10p) already on their payroll. Goldy must have been a great resource since his claim to fame is that he's a NW blogger with national renown whose platform, Horsesass.org is one of the biggest online communities in the region. Nobody will talk to us yet, but with that kind of live and local experience on tap, maybe the site will go from the B- we gave it to an A. (Even KIRO's B- beat all the other talk stations' sites by a mile).
~ I am not a kook! bRyAn StYbLe (KIRO Sundays, 10p-1a) tried to dispel rumors about himself last Sunday night, at the end of his show. So know-it-now from your favorite know-it all: a) he is not a racist, he is in fact an integrationist. b) he does not work for free, he just was not paid once in New Mexico. Our questions to bRyAn: Have you learned to breath through your nose? Do you still wear a watch on both arms?
~ We gleaned this controversial commentary on recent radio history from one of our unnamed sources while doing our brrrrilliant post, Talkritique: live & local talk radio... is it over? If KIRO had figured out sooner what it figured out in August 2007, morphing into a NewsTalk station after desperately clinging to a declining NewsRadio image, it could have created a talk line-up to maintain dominance among talk stations. But they would have had to write off the news audience, let KOMO happen, and become the live, local talk station. In a perfect world, it would NOT have launched KTTH and instead put its resources into KIRO. That evolution should have happened in 2003. By 2008, KIRO would have been the bullet-proof talk station. There’s a lot of catching up to do for KIRO and challenges presented by the presence of KTTH/Rush. Bonneville inherited this mess.
~ Nobody would go to Sunset Bowl last Friday to photograph Too Beautiful to Live's
Jen Andrews for 
BlatherWatch.
She hates us and won't respond to our
requests for a photo. But thankfully, TBTL released the stunning
headshot of Jen on the left.
~ Bryan Suits high-profile new job at Los Angeles' KFI may be stepping out of the saute pan onto a hot burner. Dig his predecessor, John Ziegler's gripe site talking about his former job.
~ Charming son of a bitch, Bill Cunningham, KVI's 
syndicated Sunday night answer to The David Goldstein Show. He insists on
calling Obama, "Barack Mohammed Hussein Obama," and said recently, "it
would be a shock" if "Barack Mohammed Hussein Obama can be elected the
president of this country in these difficult terrorist times." The big-mouthed hee-haw (photo right) also claimed that Obama "was raised in madrassas in Indonesia." Get ready for more of that from the vile right wingers if Barack is nominated.
~ "women masturbating horses" is one perverted thing you can put into the Google and get you to BlatherWatch. We're just grateful it wasn't "men masturbating horses." That would be really sick.
~ Global warming denying creationist for governor? a reader gleaned from the otherwise top drawer Kirby Wilbur Show (KVI, 5-9a) that Republican gubernatorial candidate, Dino "I wuz robbed" Rossi, is not only a global warming denier who calls it “a myth” and “a hoax;” but he favors teaching Biblical creationism in public school science classes; and presumably believes the earth was created in one great week just 8,000 years ago.
~ storming the high ground, Bill O'Reilly climbed up
on his high horse to astoundingly denounce some NBC commentators for
"continu[ing] to slam Senator Clinton." Did the Fox News Designated
Jerk turn to salt mouthing this hypocrisy? No: he went forth to accuse
Chris Matthews (photo left) for being "rough" on Hillary and aired a video clip of
MSNBC Matthews' saying, "The reason she's a U.S. senator, the reason
she's a candidate for president, the reason she may be a front-runner
is her husband messed around." O'Reilly said: "We don't do that here
... I mean, that is a personal attack!" Thanks for setting the high
industry standards for fair comment. billo. Now you can, SHUT UP!!!
SHUT UP!!!
"KIRO, my former employer in Seattle," writes Allan Prell in his new, tell-all radio book, Unplugged,
"featured traffic reports during the morning and afternoon drive time
“on the seven’s.” Seven after, seventeen after, twenty seven after, you
get the picture. The audience hopefully had become accustomed to
hearing the traffic reports at that time during the hour. Then in a
daring programming move that could only be described as genius the
decision was made to have the traffic reports “on the three’s,” oh
three, thirteen past,twenty-three past, you can figure it out from
there. The reason given for this innovative ground-breaking decision
was that the competition, the much lower rated station, KOMO presented
their traffic reports “on the fours.” It was explained to me in this
manner, KIRO’s traffic reports would now be aired a full 60 seconds
earlier than the competition. It's that kind of thinking that has made
radio in America what it is today.
Yeah but did you read the study? That's all I'm asking you. It doesn't argue that the atmosphere does not get colder as elevation increases - its talking about suspension of moisture as a function of warming. They are not mutually exclusive phenomena.
Posted by: cowpotpi3 | January 17, 2008 at 11:12 AM
Cap, good to see you lost your life again and have come back here to call everyone who doesn’t think like you names. I don't know where you got that the farmers are or are not complaining, or that it’s raining. I just corrected Sparky on her remark about the farmers in that they will more than likely vote for Rossi like in 2004 because this year there is more SNOW in the mountains and they will not be feeling "the pinch" as Sparky claimed. Joanie backed me up quite nicely don’t you think, because of climate change, there will be more SNOW in the mountains probably this year and for a few years to come at least in some areas like North Western America.
"As this soggy air moves from ocean to land, the storms that form are heavier with rain or snow."
Now if you think Dave and I are the same, you are wrong and B'lam can verify that, but his comment was quite funny and I did have a chuckle over it. Like with Joanie, you and I disagree as to the cause of the Climate Change. I will never infringe on your right to give your hard earned money to scam artists like Gore if that is what you want, but please do not force me via some legislature to hand over my hard earned money.
If you need help finding your life again, just ask, I will be happy to help.
Posted by: Nevets | January 17, 2008 at 04:03 PM
That should be "the legislature" for those who have no common sense.
Posted by: Nevets | January 17, 2008 at 04:12 PM
Some more 4th-grad grammar from Never-Nevetsland:
Cap, good to see you lost your life again and have come back here to call everyone who doesn’t think like you names.
Does this make any sense to anyone here? These must make you cringe, Joanie.
OH, here's another:
I just corrected Sparky on her remark about the farmers in that they will more than likely vote for Rossi like in 2004 because this year there is more SNOW in the mountains and they will not be feeling "the pinch" as Sparky claimed.
And another:
Joanie backed me up quite nicely don’t you think, because of climate change, there will be more SNOW in the mountains probably this year and for a few years to come at least in some areas like North Western America.
And lookie here, another:
I will never infringe on your right to give your hard earned money to scam artists like Gore if that is what you want, but please do not force me via some legislature to hand over my hard earned money.
Not that I'm shocked about the education level of said Political demographic.
Study this Nevets:
http://www.arts.uottawa.ca/writcent/hypergrammar/sntstrct.html
...and then return and enlighten us with your Global Warming knowledge
Posted by: mercifurious | January 17, 2008 at 04:20 PM
Oh poppycock! Can we please get cow patty back on here so that we will have something funny to read. Provided he's done his chores that is.
Posted by: Dave | January 17, 2008 at 04:45 PM
Stevarino..do you know the difference between snow and a glacier? ( re: the source of the Columbia River..)
Posted by: sparky | January 17, 2008 at 04:48 PM
cpp3 - no, I did not read it; I already knew that warmer air holds more moisture than colder air. Relative humidity and dew point are mutual functions - the further apart the temp and dew point are, the lower the RH.
Posted by: m | January 17, 2008 at 05:22 PM
D&D, while I study that website you linked, why not help me out and tell me where I need to put the four letter expletives in that post so you can better understand.
Posted by: Nevets | January 17, 2008 at 10:15 PM
Sparky, you must have been shaking your head in disgust after clicking on that continue button. I'll let you take it back. I wouldn't want to embarass you again.
Posted by: Nevets | January 17, 2008 at 10:20 PM
Oh Sparky, even though I am giving you a break this time, I will always remind you of it. "do you know the difference between snow and a glacier?"
Muahahahahahaha.
Most important, perhaps, the Columbia is a snow-charged river that seasonally fluctuates in volume.
Muahahahahahaha
I hope you don't teach science and geography.
Muahahahahahaha
Posted by: Nevets | January 17, 2008 at 10:54 PM
It was a yes or no question.
Unfortunately, you picked a very incomplete source for your Mwahah-ing. You see, you did what a lot of my students do..they look up one place on the Internet and trust that they have found THE definitive answer.
The Columbia Icefields ( which I have stood upon on a trip to Canada) feeds the Athabasca River, the Northern Saskatchewan River, and all the numerous tributary headwaters of the Columbia River, including Columbia Lake. Of course the lake and the river are snow fed. But the true beginnings of the river start up much higher. Next summer, maybe you can take a trip up north and check it out for yourself. It is a very beautiful place.
Posted by: sparky | January 17, 2008 at 11:22 PM
...is this what it is to slip into irrelevance?
No, it is what it is to slip into ignorance.
My statement was quite simple - the higher you go, the colder it gets.
And that is exactly the problem with your thinking. This is not a simple science. You people on the right want everything simple - well thanks for the biggest simpleton of all: George "I'm the Decider" Bush.
And now I know another of Mark's favorite things: icicles on windshields.
With time, we can rewrite the whole damn song just for Markie.
Keep flying,Mark, and leave the atmospheric sciences to the atmospheric scientists on both Planet Earth and Planets Venus, Mars, Jupiter, Pluto... If you think they are comparable at all to Earth, my already low opinion of your science acuity has been lowered x100. (That's math, BTW.)
Posted by: joanie | January 17, 2008 at 11:39 PM
Sparky, maybe you need to look up the meaning of the words "Headwaters" and "tributary". That might help you understand the source of the Columbia River. Which as you just posted, is the source, not the Columbia Icefields.
You did get the definition of a glacier I linked. Do you have on that dosen't include the word "Snow" in it.
Posted by: Nevets | January 18, 2008 at 06:33 AM
I like your use of Wikipedia also for your source.
Posted by: Nevets | January 18, 2008 at 06:35 AM
You know, Steven, there is a limit to one's acceptance of your ignorance even on a blog...
Can't you ever admit when you're wrong? Poor Mrs. Steven!
Posted by: joanie | January 18, 2008 at 08:06 AM
Poor Mrs. Steven
That, Joanie, is the most far-fetched assumption yet made on BW.
Posted by: mercifurious | January 18, 2008 at 09:25 AM
Joanie - keep diggin', maybe you'll come out the other side...
You are proof that hidebound stubbornness is not strictly reserved to the extreme right. I would venture to guess a good dividing point between middle age and elderly would be the lack of the ability to objectively examine a subject and admit/correct error.
Enjoy your stewed apricots.
Posted by: mark | January 18, 2008 at 12:35 PM
Steven, why did you need to go to the dictionary to find out what a glacier is? As I pointed out before, it was a yes or no question I asked you. So, the answer appears to be no.
I know what headwaters and tributaries are without having to go look them up. How do you think Columbia Lake gets filled up? And why is this so important to you? This all started with me telling you I dont live near Vancouver, and you went from there to asking if I can see mountains and then you're telling me that it's just snow that fills the Columbia River. This is some of the weirdest stuff I have seen you post on here.
Posted by: sparky | January 18, 2008 at 01:11 PM
Steven, why did you need to go to the dictionary to find out what a glacier is? As I pointed out before, it was a yes or no question I asked you. So, the answer appears to be no.
Sparky/Joinie - jeez you guys, we're just talking way too far above Nevets ability-levels. Here Nevets, let's try this:
What happens when water droplets get cold and freeze?
Then, what happens when the frozen water droplets build up over time?
Then, what happens to an big ol' ice cube when you heat it up?
See? That's not so hard now, is it?
Posted by: mercifurious | January 18, 2008 at 01:41 PM
No, Sparky, it started with you saying the Farmers of Eastern Washington would not vote for Rossi because they are feeling "the pinch" due to his stance on Global Warming.
As for the definition, I wanted you to read that yes I knew the difference,(surely you are smart enough to make that assumption) but I also thought that , well maybe you didn't know that snow makes a glacier. You might want to take D&D's test there.
Now, to prove me wrong, why not follow your advice and find more than one site to back up your claim besides wilkipedia which is where you got your Columbia Icefields . (which only states that it is the headwaters of THE Columbia Rivers tributaries) Why you did not go with wikipedia's Columbia River where it clearly states that its headwaters are formed in the Columbia Lake is unknown. My guess is that it was to far down the page or you seen Columbia Icefields and thought that if the name has Columbia in it, then it must be the source. Wrong. Now I have given you two sites that clearly says the headwaters of the Columbia River is Columbia Lake, can you back up your claim or are you just like your students.
By your definition, the Missouri River would be the 4th largest in the world. Is this what you are teaching? Is this why are students are lacking in Geography compared to other countries?
Posted by: Nevets | January 18, 2008 at 04:57 PM
D&D, here are my answers to your little quiz.
What happens when water droplets get cold and freeze?
it turns to ice.
Then, what happens when the frozen water droplets build up over time?
They form Glaciers.
Then, what happens to an big ol' ice cube when you heat it up?
It melts
Did i pass, huh, huh.
Posted by: Nevets | January 18, 2008 at 05:00 PM
Joanie, you hate it when I'm right don't you?
Posted by: Nevets | January 18, 2008 at 05:01 PM
Steve, I do believe you know my friend Charles from another blog, who doesn't believe in El Nino, or that the moon's pull causes the tides and our weather is controlled by HARRP.
Im sure I speak for everyone when I say we would be interested in your explanations for those things too.
Posted by: sparky | January 18, 2008 at 06:23 PM
YOu know, markie. at least Steven uses some relevant terms in his answers. You resort to personal slams.
I think your lack of knowledge on anything atmospheric short of what you can see with your own eyes is apparent to most people reading this blog.
So, continue to enjoy your "snow on the mountaintops; rain on the windows; lalalalalalalalla....
And Steven, "soggy air" has a high moisture content and often results in - yup, you guessed it - rain. Duh.
The question is: why is the air so soggy?
Posted by: joanie | January 18, 2008 at 10:25 PM
BTW, being a first-grade teacher has given me lots of practice making things simple.
Posted by: joanie | January 18, 2008 at 10:27 PM
"BTW, being a first-grade teacher has given me lots of practice making things simple.
Posted by: joanie | January 18, 2008 at 10:27 PM "
It also explains a lot in regards to your poor critical thinking skills, inability to tolerate dissent, and a general lack of real intellectual depth.
Go back to the playground Joanie. You have recess to attend to. Leave the science to the scientist.
Posted by: EdmondsDan | January 19, 2008 at 12:59 PM
Dan, it's pretty simple - Joanie will never admit error however obvious it is.
Posted by: mark | January 19, 2008 at 02:49 PM
Oh, another substantive response. Mark - who finds science in snowflakes on mountaintops and EdmondsDan who hasn't posted until the opportunity arises for a personal attack sans anything relevant - keep trying.
I put up with a lot of K-1 name calling and simplistic thinking every day. Nothing new except you're both a little old for it. :)
Posted by: joanie | January 19, 2008 at 03:11 PM
Joanie
Lets be fair, all of us engage in a fair amount of name calling on this board. all of us. so don't play hollier than thou on the topic. instead, use your logic and wit to engage the argument at hand or just ignore it.
be the bigger person...
ps: duffmaster, i am happy to read that your demise was premature. welcome back, the water is warm.
Posted by: PugetSound | January 19, 2008 at 03:17 PM
Why puts, you're back to your old self. Hard to refrain from the name-calling isn't it. Join your alter-ego (and pseudonum) and mark in vacuous posts.
I think you must have been feeling neglected. Poor putsie. :)
Posted by: joanie | January 19, 2008 at 03:23 PM
oh, so now i am duffman?
Posted by: PugetSound | January 19, 2008 at 03:32 PM
You are whomever you wish to be, putsie. It doesn't matter to me.:)
Posted by: joanie | January 19, 2008 at 03:47 PM
you're leaving me an opening there that even the zaftig duffman could squeeze through it. but i will let it be and wish you the best.
Posted by: PugetSound | January 19, 2008 at 03:54 PM
Well Sparky, I do believe in "El Nino" and that it is the "Moon's" pull that controls our "tides". Never heard of HARRP. But why change the subject, can't find another source for your Columbia Icefield answer. I doubt you will find one. Oh, how many miles is Columbia Lake from them Icefields anyway? I think my observation on how you picked that answer was correct.
Posted by: Nevets | January 19, 2008 at 09:44 PM
ps: duffmaster, i am happy to read that your demise was premature. welcome back, the water is warm.
Puts: thanks man...seems like the water is hot for me...but I can handle it.
Posted by: Duffman | January 19, 2008 at 09:47 PM
Joanie, are you paying attention, I already agreed with and thanked you. What more do you want?
Ok, could the answer be "El Nino" and Clouds. It is true that El Nino warms the ocean and cloud cover warms the lower atmosphere.
Am I right? huh, huh.
Posted by: Nevets | January 19, 2008 at 09:52 PM
Puts has very cleverly and in a polite manner handed several herein their ass in the past and it's nice to see that he can still do it. It's simply no competition when he posts and someone tries to take him on. It's obvious to all but you'll never hear them say it...they just get r-e-a-l q-u-i-e-t. It's remarkable to see.
Posted by: Duffman | January 19, 2008 at 09:58 PM
That is not a very good analogy Steven. How far away is the ocean from the Rocky Mountains? The water still gets there eventually!
Glad to hear you believe in El Nino.
Posted by: sparky | January 19, 2008 at 10:04 PM
Oh, and one more thing...
if you go to
http://employees.oneonta.edu/
baumanpr/geosat2/Big_Melt_Down/
Big_Melt_Down.htm
you can find the following information:
"From glaciers on the ice field's northwestern edge, water flows into the Fraser and Columbia rivers leading to the Pacific Ocean. The Columbia River flows 1,240 miles (2,000 km) before outletting its fresh water into the ocean."
Sorry my hotlink is not working.
Look down under FIGURE 2: General Location Map of the Columbia Icefield.
Posted by: sparky | January 19, 2008 at 10:16 PM
Nice article, I never knew it was so significant Sparky, but it says "flows into" not that it is the source of the Columbia river.
"( re: the source of the Columbia River..)"
There are many rivers that "flow into" the Columbia River. For instance the Snake river, and we don't consider that the source do we.?
Here are some examples of what to look for in your search. Since you used Wikipedia once, I thought it appropriate to use that as my source.
Nisqually River
The river rises in southern Mount Rainier National Park, fed by the Nisqually Glacier on the southern side of Mt. Rainier.
Athabasca River
The Athabasca River (French: rivière Athabasca) originates from the Columbia Glacier of the Columbia Icefield
Now if you can find one site that says the Columbia River originates or rises from the Icefield or one of its Glaciers. I will admit you are right and I am wrong. Up for the challenge or can we just say you were wrong and i am right.
Posted by: Nevets | January 19, 2008 at 11:34 PM
I could never pass this singular place without admiring its situation and romantic bold scenery ... other rivers have their sources so ramified in rills and brooks that it is not easy to determine the parent stream, this is not the case with the Columbia River
Columbia Lake.
Posted by: Nevets | January 20, 2008 at 12:00 AM
I appreciate the discussion you and Sparky are having over this. You're finally checking some sources and comparing notes. I like that, Steven. It has been interesting.
Regarding your last site, it does seem that the lake is pretty much accepted as the main source of the river. However, isn't it just possible that another take on it might be to look further up to see what exactly feeds the lake?
"The Columbia Icefields is the only glacier in the world that drains into three oceans: to the east, the North Saskatchewan River drains into the Atlantic Ocean; to the north, the Athabasca River drains into the Arctic Ocean; and the Columbia River flows westward into the Pacific Ocean."
I'm not trying to prove anybody right here. I think you two are talking at cross purposes. Would you deny that the water that forms the Columbia River starts higher than the Lake even though the Lake is considered the "official" answer.
I think Sparky was only trying to provide more information. I wish I'd been able to go up there and actually stand on the ice fields. That sounds awesome! I'm envious of that!
Tell me, however, how it is that cloud cover warms the earth? I thought the sun's rays warmed the earth. Cloud cover keeps out the rays of the sun. Not arguing here but wondering...
Actually, anyone can answer as long as they know what they're talking about.
Posted by: joanie | January 20, 2008 at 01:34 AM
Steven...now you are just being stubborn. I already gave you a link to where it says the icefields feed the river--yes, by way of Columbia Lake. That is not a rare phenomenon to have lakes fed by glaciers, leadig to rivers. Visit Glacier National Park sometime. And, as I said, if you have to see it for yourself, then go on up to Banff.
By the way,please do not ever visit head of the Metolius River in Oregon as it will really confuse you.
I'm moving on to something else now.
Posted by: sparky | January 20, 2008 at 08:54 AM
Joanie, could it be that the clouds trap the heat from escaping to the atmosphere. Have you ever noticed it is colder on clear nights?
And on the Columbia Ice fields, I too was impressed by that article, but it was Sparky who said it was the "Source" of the Columbia River via the Columbia Lake. The reference she said that the Columbia Ice field feeds the lake is wrong. (She actually just typed Columbia Lake in to try to prove her point, but never linked an actual reference)
The Columbia Lake is spring fed from underground sources. If you look at a map, you'll see that the Kootenai River runs south from the Ice field, a distance of 60 miles or so but does not, again, does not feed into the lake even though they pass really close together (1KM). So tell me, if the Columbia Ice fields did supply Lake Columbia, what feeds it? There are no other rivers or streams flowing south and if it did, how would it get over that Mountain Range that runs N-S on the eastern side of the lake.
So it is physically impossible for any runoff of a Glacier of the Columbia Ice fields to reach the Columbia Lake.
Posted by: Nevets | January 20, 2008 at 05:03 PM
Unless, there are 60 miles of volcanic tubes running south from the Columbia Ice Fields.
Posted by: Nevets | January 20, 2008 at 05:26 PM
...goin to OT in the Packers/Giants game in sub-zero weather...now THAT's football! :)
Posted by: Duffman | January 20, 2008 at 07:07 PM
Be sure to contact the Canadian government and tell them of your findings, Steven.
Posted by: sparky | January 20, 2008 at 07:12 PM
I think somebody already beat me to it. Sorry to prove you wrong.
Again.
Muahahahahahahahaha.
I kind of enjoy doing the Stepanie Miller sound bite.
Posted by: Nevets | January 20, 2008 at 11:54 PM
Columbia River
Posted by: Nevets | January 20, 2008 at 11:57 PM
Doesn't sound good, folks!
Read It And Weep
Only 5-years of summer Artic ice cap left?
Posted by: Duffman | January 24, 2008 at 06:47 AM