Allen's Alley by Dave Allen

The Long Ranger

2008-09-29T10:29:00.008-05:00

Time again for The Radio Daddio's long range weather forecast for Central Wisconsin.

Autumn 2008 should be relatively uneventful with colder and wetter than normal conditions through November. Look for the first trace of snow earlier than normal with significant snowfall around Thanksgiving but turning drier at Christmas.

Very cold temps are expected near the New Year holiday with two more Arctic blasts - one in February and Winter's last hurrah in mid March. As last time, Spring will go by pretty much unnoticed with a very slow warm up and temps in the 50s and 60s most of Summer 2009.

Of course, as with any long range forecast, take it with a grain of salt - make that rock salt, just in case.

Florida, anyone?

Dave Allen, The Meteorology Daddio

Confused Big Time!

2008-09-20T16:30:00.003-05:00

One of my wife's friends send her this email. She'd like me to share it with my readers in Allen's Alley. Please don't think about it too hard. I did and it gave me a headache.

I'm a little confused. Let me see if I have this straight.

* If you grow up in Hawaii, raised by your grandparents, you're "exotic, different."

* If you grow up in Alaska eating moose burgers, you're a quintessential American story.

* If your name is Barack, you're a radical, unpatriotic Muslim.

* If you name your kids Willow, Trig and Track, you're a maverick.

* If you graduate from Harvard Law School, you are unstable.

* If you attend 5 different small colleges before graduating, you're well grounded.

* If you spend 3 years as a community organizer, become the first black President of the Harvard Law Review, create a voter registration drive that registers 150,000 new voters, spend 12 years as a Constitutional Law professor, spend 8 years as a State Senator representing a district with over 750,000 people, become chairman of the state Senate's Health and Human Services committee, spend 4 years in the United States Senate representing a state of 13 million people while sponsoring 131 bills and serving on the Foreign Affairs, Environment and Public Works and Veteran's Affairs committees, you don't have any real leadership experience.

* If your total resume is: local weather girl, 4 years on the city council and 6 years as the mayor of a town with less than 7,000 people, 20 months as the governor of a state with only 650,000 people, then you're qualified to become the country's second highest ranking executive.

* If you have been married to the same woman for 19 years while raising 2 beautiful daughters, all within Protestant churches, you're not a real Christian.

* If you cheated on your first wife with a rich heiress, and left your disfigured wife and married the heiress the next month, you're a Christian.

* If you teach responsible, age appropriate sex education, including the proper use of birth control, you are eroding the fiber of society.

* If, while governor, you staunchly advocate abstinence only, with no other option in sex education in your state's school system, while your unwed teen daughter ends up pregnant, you're very responsible.* If your wife is a Harvard graduate lawyer who gave up a position in a prestigious law firm to work for the betterment of her inner city community, then gave that up to raise a family, your family's values don't represent America's.

* If you're husband is nicknamed "First Dude", with at least one DWI conviction and no college education, who didn't register to vote until age 25 and once was a member of a group that advocated the secession of Alaska from the USA, your family is extremely admirable.

OK, much clearer now.

Ouch No More!

2008-08-23T10:00:00.003-05:00

Okay! I've had egg on my face before and I'm quite certain I'll apply that protein rich disguise many times again! Several weeks (and articles) ago, I wrote a couple of stories about that pain relief spray that's been advertised on television. In the first, I was very critical of the product saying, in effect, that since it's sold without a prescription, it's probably of not much use. Well, I was bombarded with a ton of email and letters telling me, essentially, if you haven't tried it, don't knock it!

So, I quickly cranked out another article, still having serious doubts about the product but saying I was willing to give it a shot. Well, I ordered several bottles including one for my trick knee and one for my wife as a control subject since she had no pain of any kind. I then received several more emails telling me I didn't understand the concept of a "control." You guys got me again. A true control subject or group is made of individuals who have a condition to treat but have been given a placebo. As my wife feels fine, I had it upside down!

Well, I've been using the stuff for a couple of weeks and, hey, I don't enjoy admitting I'm wrong but it really does seem to work! My aching knee and the sciatica that accompanies it are pretty much gone with the recommended dose of the product. I thought I'd give the stuff the acid test by not using it at all for a couple of days and, by golly, the ache starting coming back! Another couple of days back on the soup, and I'm fine again.

Coincidence? I don't know and I don't really care. I just know when I use the stuff, I feel better!

Although not intended as a commercial endorsement, I am including a link to their product in the Internet blog edition of this article. See what you think!

Before you jump on the Internet and order this "miracle" pain spray, you really should check with your doctor. I know my small injury was caused by a stupid move in a tennis game. You might have a condition that needs professional medical help.

As for my wife, the "control" subject -- oh, she's never had a sick day in her life nor does she have arthritis, an injury or anything else wrong with her. She's no fun at all!

Dave Allen, the pain free Radio Daddio

Spray It Again, Sam

2008-07-19T11:48:00.000-05:00

Since my "Spray Your Pain Away" article, I've received a tons of email. Dozens of readers tell me they ordered and have used the stuff for weeks, finding it to be exactly as advertised. Even those who didn't try it were still in disagreement with my arbitrary criticism of this new product. In effect, most said, "Don't knock it until you try it!" So I took my readers' advice and ordered the stuff.

I twisted my left knee a few weeks ago. It still aches at times so I figured, let's go for it. The other night, while the product's commercial was on TV, I went to their website and was treated to another playback of their television commercial while I put in my order. As with most "As Seen On TV" stuff, my order was automatically doubled. "Cool," I said to myself, but twice nothing is still nothing! Anyway, I selected a quantity of 3: one for my trick knee, another for my publicist who has some arthritis in her knees and the 3rd bottle for my wife who has no aches and pains at all. I figured since it's advertised as "homeopathic," it should be completely harmless and my wife might make a good control subject.

When I hit what I thought was the final order button, I was subjected to several screens of product pitches for vitamins and other supplements. I'm pretty well stocked with that so I moved on. Finally, there's a 1/2 size bottle of this pain relief stuff for a little less than 1/2 price and no additional shipping charge. I thought, hey, why not so I swallowed that pitch.

I didn't mind those extra product pitches as much as the final page that verified that my order was accepted. At the very bottom it said that I was enrolled in their home delivery program and a new bottle would be sent every 30 days until I cancelled. Funny, I didn't see anything about that when I went through the ordering process. If it was there, it was pretty well buried! However, they did furnish a toll free customer service number and email address and my past experience with other such programs proved that canceling, although sometimes requiring jumping through several hoops, was possible.

The entire order plus shipping came to just under $76. My gut feeling is that my money would have been better spent in my gas tank but, there I go, prejudging again. I'll get back to you in a couple of weeks and tell you what I think.

The Not Quite Bent Over With Pain Radio Daddio

Spray Your Pain Away!

2008-07-01T20:30:00.000-05:00

I'm sure we've all seen the commercial for that "homeopathic" pain relief spray that you simply squirt into your mouth and, amazingly, all your aches and pains are soon gone. You may have wondered why it's available without a prescription and at such a relatively low price: about $20 for a 200 spray bottle. Surely, such a miraculous potion would be subjected to years of Food and Drug Administration scrutiny and, when they were done, would be available by prescription only and at a lofty price. I also wondered so I did a bit of research.

A friend in Chicago who is involved in medical research and testing, advised me that this concoction was, indeed, submitted to the FDA and, after a cursory examination, they came to the conclusion that the stuff is completely harmless. As a matter of fact, it has virtually no effect at all! My friend also offered some free advice.

We have pain for a very good reason. It's a signal that something is wrong. Mask it without checking out its source, and you could go on ignoring a serious condition.

However, if you still want 200 doses of a non-prescription pain reliever for far less, buy an economy size bottle of aspirin!

Dave Allen, The Radio Daddio

It's a Gas!

2008-05-30T21:28:00.000-05:00

Do I look like I was born yesterday? What in the world is happening with the price of fuel?

I took a year of economics and, believe me, this is not the way the laws of supply and demand are supposed to work!

Since the price of gas has been skyrocketing, demand has fallen substantially. Supply is up several percentage points and the price per barrel of crude oil is down almost every day. Yet, the cost of filling our tanks has been rising a few cents a gallon almost every day! Look, I didn't just fall off the turnip truck.

Since the continuously rising price of fuel is not the result of supply and demand, there must be another factor at work...and I say that factor is greed! The oil companies are convinced we will simply not stop driving and will sacrifice almost anything, including putting adequate food on our tables, just to keep our cars running. Well, let's show those oil companies they are dead wrong!

With Summer on the way with its warmer temps, let's leave the car in the garage every chance we get and bike it to work. For those who already have a scooter or moped, take advantage of that 100 mpg or better treasure. If you don't have one, consider buying one...you may come to value it as the most useful purchase you ever made. I know I feel that way about mine!

Take a stand against the big oil companies. If enough of us greatly reduce our usage of that precious dino juice, they're going to be hurt where it counts...right in the bottom line. If their profit is cut into enough, they'll have no choice but to drop the price to a level that is truly reflective of the prevailing supply and demand environment. Let's screw the oil companies just like they're screwing us!

Dave Allen, The Radio Daddio

A Real Pain in the Gas

2008-04-27T13:11:00.000-05:00

Fuel prices are literally soaring! Consumers are foregoing vacations, entertainment, eating out and even cutting back on groceries just to keep gas in the car. Auto makers have pretty much run into a impasse as they try to pit miles per gallon against clean air standards. Until totally new and much more efficient modes of propulsion become commonplace, such as greatly improved hybrids, electric and hydrogen fuel cell vehicles, we're pretty much at the peak of the mpg curve.

However, there is an easy way we can greatly decrease the amount of fuel our cars use over a given number of miles; just slow down!

Laws of physics dictate that the friction a vehicle encounters with the air increases with the square of its velocity. So, if your 35mph speed is doubled to 70mph, friction is increased by 4 times. (2 squared) Obviously, the fuel required to maintain 70 will be far greater than holding 35. This doesn't even include the extra fuel required to accelerate from 35 to 70! With the average national highway speed approaching 75mph, just imagine all the fuel we could save by just slowing down!

Another main factor governing fuel efficiency is your car's drive train: its engine, transmission and final drive which turns the wheels. Most transmissions, manual or automatic, will move your vehicle most efficiently at a speed just enough to cause it to shift into its highest gear: usually, overdrive. On average, that's about 45mph. So, if you make a habit of smoothly accelerating to 45 (where the speed limit allows) or whatever that final shift point is for your car, you're likely to slash your fuel bill drastically!

Without getting into all the math, the moral of the story is simple; slow down and save! Furthermore, if everyone did this, the nation's demand for gasoline would also go way down and, according to the laws of supply and demand, the price per gallon will also drop: an added benefit of slowing down.

Are we ready for a national speed limit of 45mph or will we continue to be victims of our own lead foot ways and allow the oil companies to tell us how much food we can afford to put on our tables?

Dave Allen, Radio Daddio

Digital Destiny

2008-04-25T12:39:00.000-05:00

We've all heard that public service announcement advising that after February 17, 2009, all television stations will broadcast exclusively in digital and our TVs may no longer work. However, before you run out and buy a new model, keep in mind that this only applies to programs that you receive with an antenna on TVs that were manufactured prior to about 2000. If you receive all your programming by cable or satellite, you won't notice any change at all.

If you do use an antenna, check your owner's manual. Your TV may already be digital ready and it will explain how to set it up for digital reception.

In any event, if you do purchase a new TV, and plan to use it with an antenna, make very sure it has a digital tuner. Otherwise, it will only be usable to receive programs via satellite or cable or as a playback device for your VCR or DVD player. There are many retailers out there who are anxious to unload their supply of old analog only TVs and very willing to sell them to unsuspecting customers.

Finally, a note about VCRs and DVD machines. Before you buy, make sure your new digital TV has standard RCA and S-VHS inputs in addition to digital connections so you will be able to playback your standard analog tapes and DVDs. Analog output jacks are also a good feature as you'll then be able to record programs through your new TV. However, video recorded that way will be no greater than analog quality. The best way to record from an antenna is directly into the VCR's antenna input. You'll then need a digital VCR and those are still rather costly. My 1st VHS VCR cost me $1100 in 1979. Prices are certain to drop as the new units become more common.

If you're satisfied with an analog quality picture, you can still use your older TVs and VCRs by connecting a digital converter to your antenna inputs. You may also receive a government grant to buy one. Check out the Digital TV link at the top right.

Dave Allen, The Digital Daddio

Radio Active

2008-03-28T13:10:00.000-05:00

You know you're getting old when many of your former colleagues and acquaintances in this business begin forming a line that leads to that big radio station in the sky.

Recently, we lost another great one. Wally Phillips, who for more than 20 years held the number one spot in the Chicago radio market, passed away. He was 82.

Wally arrived at WGN Radio from Cincinnati's WLW in 1956. He was accompanied by Bob "Bozo the Clown" Bell who wound up on WGN's TV side and, although I really can't consider Wally a colleague as we never actually worked together, we would often meet at a local restaurant on Chicago's north side. A relaxing breakfast and each of us would depart for our respective radio jobs.

Phillips was often considered to be the "inventor" of the modern radio talk show -- although my mentor Howard Miller would probably disagree -- he'd say it was he!

So, farewell, Wally. We'll dearly miss you. Many are saying, it's the end of an era. When I go, folks will simply say, it's the end!

Dave Allen, Radio Daddio

Another Pain in the Gas

2008-03-24T11:30:00.000-05:00

This was sent by a retired Coca Cola executive. It came from one of his engineer buddies who retired from Halliburton and was part as a mass emailing.

If you are tired of gas prices going up AND they will continue to rise this summer, take time to read about his idea from Phillip Hollsworth.

I hear we are going to hit close to $4.00 a gallon by next summer and it might go higher! Want gasoline prices to come down? We need to take some intelligent, united action. The oil companies just laughed at the "don't buy gas on Wednesdays" because they knew we wouldn't continue to "hurt" ourselves by refusing to buy gas overall. It was more of an inconvenience to us than it was a problem for them. BUT, whoever thought of this idea, has come up with a plan that can Really work. Please read on and join with us!

By now you're probably thinking gasoline priced at about $2.00 is super cheap. Me too! It is currently $2.98 for regular unleaded in my town. Now that the oil companies and the OPEC nations have conditioned us to think that the cost of a gallon of gas is CHEAP at $2.00, we need to take aggressive action to teach them that BUYERS control the marketplace...not sellers. The only way we are going to see the price of gas come down is if we hit someone in the pocketbook by not purchasing their gas! And, we can do that WITHOUT hurting ourselves. How? Since we all rely on our cars, we can't just stop buying gas. But we CAN have an impact on gas prices if we all act together to force a price war. Here's the idea.

For the rest of this year, DON'T purchase ANY gasoline from the two biggest companies, (which now are one) EXXON and MOBIL. If they're not selling gas, they may be inclined to reduce their prices. If they reduce their prices, the other companies will have to follow suit. But to have an impact, we need to reach literally millions of Exxon and Mobil gas buyers. It's really simple to do!

I am sending this note to 30 people. If each of us sends it to at least ten more and those 300 send it to at least ten more (300 x 10 = 3,000)...and so on, by the time the message reaches the sixth group of people, we will have reached over THREE MILLION consumers. If those three million get excited and pass this on to ten friends each, then 30 million people will have been contacted! If it goes one level further ..... THREE HUNDRED MILLION PEOPLE!!! Again, all you have to do is send this to 10 people. That's all!

How long would all that take? If each of us sends this e-mail out to ten more people within one day of receipt, all 300 MILLION people could conceivably be contacted within the next 8 days!!! I'll bet you didn't think you and I had that much potential, did you! Acting together, we can make a difference.

EDITOR: Of course, you do this all at your own risk. Don't be surprised when your ISP cancels your account for misuse of the Internet and you receive a heavy fine and, possibly, a prison term for spamming. Then, the oil companies will have truly won!

Dave Allen, The Radio Daddio

Allen's 2008 Spring Into Summer Forecast

2008-02-23T18:16:00.000-06:00

Believe it or not, Spring and Summer will really arrive in Central Wisconsin but not without some resistance.

March will roar in like a Lion with serious snow storms developing during the 1st week of the month. Look for some clearing around the middle part of March with the 1st day of Spring arriving with cool but clear weather. Then, more snow will be moving through the last week of the month.

Winter's final surge will come with two blasts of heavy snow: the 1st near the beginning of April and another potentially serious storm developing during the last couple of weeks of April followed by a cool and, otherwise, uneventful, May.

Generally, expect a cool, wet Spring in most of the Midwest, an active tornado season and a warmer than normal summer in much of the country: something to look forward to.

Of course, long range weather forecasting is an inexact science at best so, please take these projections with a grain of salt; you may need lot of it if all that snow develops.

Dave Allen, Radio Daddio and Excellent Meteorologist

Sound Advice

2008-01-26T18:37:00.000-06:00

We've all seen the commercial for that mini stereo system that promises to deliver really big surround sound from just two little speakers and a subwoofer and you may have wondered, as have I; "how does it do it?" Well, the answer is simple; it doesn't!

I finished hooking my new mini system up to my HDTV and, anxiously, flipped on a movie channel. It was an obvious improvement over my internal TV speakers. The bass was big and the highs out of sight! The midrange, however; that's where most of the presence is. That midrange was somewhat disappointing. Don't get me wrong; it sounded just great for a $100 sound system. The problem is, it cost more than a thousand!

I guess I should have known better. To get really big sound, you need to move a lot of air and that means really big speakers. From experience, I've found 12 and 15 inch systems with internal woofers, midrange speakers and high end tweeters produce the best full range sound.

As far as surround sound, that's the job of those two little speakers as the subwoofer is more or less non-directional. Well, you hear a hint of surround and it might be satisfying enough for some. For me, however, well, I guess I'm old school but I say to get the surround effect of a 5 speaker system, you need, like duh, 5 speakers!

So, if you're looking for a mediocre bookshelf system and have money to burn, by all means, order this one. As for mine, it's getting shipped back tomorrow. Then, I'll rent a van, head out to my local audio/video store and fill that van with several hundred pounds of surround goodies. It may not fit on my bookshelf, but it'll sound great!

Dave Allen, Radio Daddio

Baby It's Cold Outside!

2007-12-30T15:25:00.000-06:00

Well, the dreaded cold season is upon us again. If only there were a cure for these nagging episodes of coughing, sneezing and sore throats. But there is; yet the medical profession generally denies its effectiveness and, almost without exception, does not promote its use.

Why? The answer is elementary. This simple and relatively inexpensive cure is available over the counter without a prescription. Actually, this simple cure couldn't be more elementary chemically; it's simply an element.

For more than a decade, Zinc has been shown to be extremely effective in shortening the duration of the common cold by a factor of about 75%. And for those who say, shortening a cold isn't really curing it; I ask, what disease or condition is instantly stopped in its tracks? No, this is, indeed, the cure for the common cold we've all been searching for.

So, why is this miracle cure being so universally shunned by the medical world? The answer is just as simple as the cure itself --- there's no money in it for them! If you can easily buy this marvelous "drug" with no medical exam and no prescription, how in the world is the medical industry going to profit from it? I propose the only reason for the medical profession's existence at this point in time is to amass wealth for its members. But, It wasn't always like that.

Decades ago, when doctors made house calls and had $5 office visits, I truly believe they were here to heal. However, in these days of $150+ office visits and virtually unaffordable health insurance, I believe those who get into medical fields simply want to become well healed!

So, next time you break your leg, by all means, see the doctor. But, if you catch cold, just go down to the store and get a pack of Cold-Eeze. You'll have no deductible and no co-pay. And in 3 days or so, you'll also have no cold!

Dave Allen, Radio Daddio

Gas Pains

2007-08-23T23:38:00.000-05:00

Recently, I've been hearing car manufacturers brag about their new vehicles that get 22 highway miles per gallon or so. Brag? They should be apologizing! I remember my '87 Chevy Sprint, later to become the Geo Metro, that regularly cranked out at least 55mpg! That's pushing the envelope for even today's high tech hybrids (although Toyota is planning the release of a 100+mpg Prius) - and it did it all without expensive electric motors, huge and troublesome batteries and complicated computer controlled regenerative braking. So what happened?

My local auto mechanic tells me the general reduction in miles per gallon over the last couple of decades is due primarily to the addition of all those emission control devices. Really? Since when does consuming more than twice the fuel reduce emissions? I don't know what kind of math Detroit is using but it sure doesn't add up with me.

Frankly, I think "Motor City" and maybe even all the world's car makers are in cahoots with the oil industry. Let's face it, if every car got better than 50mpg, most oil refineries would soon be parking lots! Hey, that would really reduce emissions!

Dave Allen, Radio Daddio

Roswell Turns 60

2007-07-08T15:48:00.000-05:00

July, 2007 was the 60th anniversary of that fabled UFO crash at Roswell, New Mexico. But, is it a fable or did an extraterrestrial ship actually crash in New Mexico back in 1947? Did our United States government, as many allege, cover up evidence of this incident? And what of the craft itself and its non-human passengers? Are they neatly tucked away in some secret government hangar in Area 51? Let's take a closer look.

First of all, in our known Universe which extends some 15 billion light years in every direction and is filled with trillions upon trillions of galaxies each populated by hundreds of billions of stars, it is literally inconceivable that the only planet orbiting the only star that is the sole home of intelligent life is this small green orb we call Earth! It is now accepted that most middle aged stars, as is our sun, have planetary systems. If only one ten thousandth of one percent of all the planets in the Universe have any life at all, then our known Universe is jumping with life forms: many, by shear statistics, far more advanced than are we! But, have they come here?

Let's assume that some distant civilization is peering through its telescopes, listening to radio signals and using other forms of advanced technologies that humans have not yet even dreamed of to seek out intelligent life. As advanced as their devices may be, we must accept that all electromagnetic transmissions get weaker with great distances and the integrity of those signals will be proportionally degraded. Also, as galaxies are separated by distances of millions of light years, and any radio signal or image would be that old, it is unlikely that an advanced civilization would even attempt to locate or communicate with another outside its own galaxy: let alone ever attempt the trip there.

No! It is much more reasonable to assume that our alien friends may have detected our earthy radio signals. These signals would, for reasons that we cannot go into here because of time limitations, stand out above the random background noise of the Universe. If these ETs could figure out that these transmissions were of intelligent origin, they would certainly be more than a little curious about the author of these signals. As radio came into being in the 1920s, our signals could not have been traveling out into the galaxy for more than about a quarter of a century to have reached their ears by 1947. That's assuming these aliens were capable of faster than light speed travel, and could get here from literally anywhere in almost no time at all after receiving our signals.

If we buy into all this, then where is the real nuts and bolts evidence of their arrival? I've interviewed dozens who have claimed to have seen a UFO! Only a few brought any kind of photographic evidence. Almost all were obvious fakes or so blurry, they could just as well have said it was a photo of the Easter Bunny. Even that "Alien Autopsy" film, which for a while seemed to be the UFO "Holy Grail", has itself proved to be a fraud!

While I have a hard time believing we are alone in our vast Universe or even within our interstellar neighborhood, I have an even harder time believing that planet Earth was visited by extraterrestrials in 1947 or at any other time in recorded human history. Until the Jupiter 2 lands in my back yard and ET steps out and says, "Klatu Berrada Nitku", I'm afraid I'm still a skeptic!

Live long and prosper.

Dave Allen, Radio Daddio

It's in the Toilet

2007-04-01T21:08:00.000-05:00

I just give up! About a year ago, we "upgraded" our upstairs bathroom with some new fixtures including a nice new toilet. After our plumber finished its installation, he said proudly, "Now, you'll be conserving a lot of water!" By golly, he installed one of those water conservation toilets that I've heard so much about. We didn't ask for one but, I guess, we had no choice in the matter. You get a toilet, it's a water conservation baby!

We'll, over the past year or so, we've been bailing, plunging and cussing almost on a daily basis because this water conservation crapper simply does not work! Several plumbers have been consulted with requests to take this useless monstrosity out and replace it with one of those old 3 gallon models but -- no can do! Other than procuring one on the black market or otherwise breaking the law, this 1.6 gallon piece of junk, or another like it, is here to stay!

Why in the world couldn't they have left well enough alone? And, exactly what is it that we're actually conserving? I thought water just went around and around and was never "used up." So, how in the world can we "conserve" something that's here to stay anyway? Are there "thinkers" sitting on their crappers high atop some ivory tower just coming up with ludicrous ideas for no purpose other than making our lives miserable?

And, by the way, what kind of toilets are they sitting on?

I give up!

Dave Allen, Radio Daddio

Way Back!

2007-01-17T20:44:00.000-06:00

I guess I've always wanted to be a broadcaster. My 1st recollection of music on the radio was...well, I'll let you figure out the year. I was listening to a singer the announcer said was Perry Como. The song was Mona Lisa. I had no idea who this Perry Como dude was and what in the world was "Mona Lisa?" I remember asking my mom how the singer and orchestra got into the radio in the 1st place. She told me to ask my dad! Well, dad explained that they weren't really IN the radio but the announcer was playing a record. Fine, but, how in the world did that announcer guy fit in that radio with the record machine? I, obviously, figured it all out and the 1st time I played this Perry Como tune on a "Music of Your Life" station, these memories came back. What a blast from the past!

Dave Allen WDUX 800AM & 92.7FM Waupaca, Wisconsin

Sad News

2007-01-17T13:50:00.000-06:00

I was saddened to hear of the death of my former colleague Nick Farella. As he was several years my junior, it also gave me a quick reality check. Nick was "FM" and I was "AM" at Waukegan, Illinois stations WXLC and WKRS in the late '80s and early '90s. At the time, Nick was program director of both stations and would often do afternoon fill-in on FM. As I was doing the same shift on AM, we would often go down the hall and visit with each other. I also have fond memories of the annual "Scoop the Loop" old car cruise through downtown Waukegan at which Nick and I would do remote broadcasts on our respective shows. My condolences and best wishes for the future go out to his family. Nick will truly be missed.

Dave Allen WDUX 92.7FM & 800AM Waupaca, Wisconsin