Andrew's Take on The Buzz

Andrew Raff
January 12, 2001

Since Krikor is off on vacation today, I (Andrew) am putting my hand in at writing an issue of The Buzz. We still dont have any computers set up at the new Buzz Rant & Rave World Headquarters yet, so its annoying for those of us who are addicted to email and instant messenger. Its also made it difficult to write, as I seem to have lost the ability to compose using pen and paper. I find that writing with a keyboard and word processor is less difficult, because it is far easier to move phrases around on screen than on paper.

Speaking of computers, Apples new Powerbook G4 is very slick looking. Finally, someone has made a notebook computer that is even cooler than the Sony VAIO. I think we need to get one here at Buzz Rant & Rave to review for Gadget Overload.

I cant believe what has happened to WNEW. At 102.7 FM in New York, WNEW has one of the longest traditions of FM radio of any station. It was one of the leading stations broadcasting album oriented rock. Even as it went through format changes in the last couple of years, switching from classic rock to modern alternative back to a mix of classic and modern music, NEW retained its status as first-rate station. As a member of the Infinity Broadcasting family of utterly corporatist radio stations, WNEW now has a shock-talk format, which has dropped it near the bottom of the ratings for New York radio. Now, the station is in even more turmoil. They dropped Vin Scelsas Idiots Delight, the last freeform show broadcast on commercial radio in New York as well as some of the talk shows. Last night, in the absence of other programming, they aired two episodes of Opie and Anthony back to back. When Opie and Anthony are not only your most popular show, but also your best program, your radio station is in trouble. This is why Ive given up and only listen to NPR nowadays

-Andrew