Please click on image to enlarge it
An unvarnished blog that dips into the past and comments on the present of WBAI-FM, a once significant, intelligent New York radio station that for years has suffered chronic abuse from within and now nears extinction. Your comments are welcomed and will not be censored.
You are too kind, sir.
ReplyDelete~ Indigo Pirate
Amen to Indigo's eloquent comments.
ReplyDeleteTPM
IP and TPM--Yes!
ReplyDeleteThis post also encapsulates what's wrong with so many people and organizations who think they're doing "God's work" (or the secular equivalent thereof). They develop--intentionally or not--an "end justifies the means" way of thinking.
The funny thing is that they would also be the first to denounce "Machiavellian" cynicism--without, of course, having read the Italian philosopher.
As regards the current fund raising drive - a few nights ago I was tuned in to one of the few shows I actually like - 2600. They had a really interesting premium so I called the pledge line. They put me on hold for what seemed to me like 10min, (it may have been less but it seemed to me like 10 anyway). At that point I lost patience and hung up but I guess, since they had to put me on hold, there was a good response. How refreshing to hear something other then, what another poster has so aptly described as a Gary Null infomercial, and, I may and, some crackpot conspiracy theory. I'm still hoping, that given time, the quacks, cranks and mystics will be reigned in, maybe this will just take some time but given what seems to me the direction of this fund drive maybe my hopes are in vain. Oh well there is still KCR and NYC - poosr substitutes for what we could have but this maybe all that is left in the future.
ReplyDeleteI was not aware of WBAI having a show called "2600." When is it on? What is it about?
Delete2600 is a computer show - good in my estimation - I find it quite interesting although I don't necessarily agree with everything that is presented on it.
ReplyDeleteI made a slight mistake which may have confused you. I believe that the actual name of the program is "Off the Hook" I think that 2600 is the name of the group that presents it.
ReplyDeleteThanks. Now I can make sense of it.
DeleteI'm still waiting for an 'Off the Hook' premium from October as well - I've emailed the station, and not had a response, I've emailed 2600, but they're on hols at the moment. It seems to stem round the fact that their 'give2wbai' system tells me I need to pay for the premium, despite me doing so via Paypal, and I have the Paypal receipt to prove it, the system cannot correlate the reference number to my order number.
ReplyDeleteI find it ironic that in the last 2 days I've had e-mails, so today I replied to one of them, and posted on their Facebook page stating that my next course of action will be either to take it further up the chain, or e-mail local law enforcement..see how that goes :)
Not receiving a reply from WBAI is par for the course. We have repeatedly been told by Reimers and Dingeman that the premiums backlog is all but solved. That was allegedly the case a year after Reimers was said to have spent his first year as iGM sorting out that mess. Like so much these people aver, it was obviously not true. Pacifica's spirit has been dead for many years, the carcass has been picked clean by the leeches, and the mortal victims are supporters like you.
DeleteIf by taking it "further up the chain," you mean going to Pacifica, you are beating a dead horse. This scam should put them out of business, too—I hat to say so, but it is high time for the authorities to end these years of abuse and re-assign the frequency. If that happens, we might not like what we hear at 99.5, but Kate Smith singing "Itsy Bitsy Teenie Weenie Yellow Polka Dot Bikini" is what it is—it won't steal your money nor give you false hope.
OK - if taking my complaint up the chain is not likely to work - WHat can I do?...I'm well over the 90 days for Paypal (I left it a while before taking action, as I know how non airmail postage can be between US and UK) so I can't do that, is it worth getting a US based debt-collection agency involved, or even local law enforcement?....Granted, I'm down about $125 (around 80 GBP) and whilst its not a major amount, I'd like to take some steps to either get the premiums, or my money back :)
DeleteI didn't know that you were overseas. I will look into it and it would probably help if you could tell me which premium you should be receiving. As you might have gathered, I am not terribly close to the people in charge, but I can get word to them. Give me a few details and I'll go to work. —Chris
DeleteYou can e-mail me directly at bessiesmith@mac.com