tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4486287910626602438.post1600722131933375368..comments2023-09-08T12:08:39.523-04:00Comments on WBAI: The saving plans...Chris Albertsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12056345320709233401noreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4486287910626602438.post-36845734165649027092013-07-31T18:13:55.421-04:002013-07-31T18:13:55.421-04:00Knight needs to ride away on his imaginary horse, ...Knight needs to ride away on his imaginary horse, but Null and his new partner, Christine Blosdale, is still a prominent presence—he appears to have escalated the self-serving aspect of his pitches.<br /><br />I appreciate the comment.Chris Albertsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12056345320709233401noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4486287910626602438.post-80087928553757441862013-07-31T18:10:15.707-04:002013-07-31T18:10:15.707-04:00Hamilton is by no means the worst offender. There ...Hamilton is by no means the worst offender. There was a time when all that bothered me about his show was his affected delivery, but I have noticed a change in content, lately. This began to surface during fundraising drives, probably at least in part brought on by the nature of the "premiums," but it has become a more common attitude. <br /><br />When I criticized him on the BlueBoard for praising a book advocating that school children be encouraged to re-enact lynching incidents of the past, I suggested that this approach to childhood education was wrongheaded. Such atrocities should not be kept from them, I wrote. but children—being at a vulnerable age—ought also to be shown the positive side of our past—something they can re-enact with pride. In other words, don't emphasize hate and bigotry when preparing children for the future. Make them aware of the good and bad in our country's past, and encourage them to shape a brighter future.<br /><br />A few days later, Hamilton read selected parts of my post and, almost defiantly, made a rather childish vow to continue recommending this book and its teacher/author's methods.<br /><br />I, too, heard that Kathy Davis interview (gushes, and all). She and her guest belong more on "Saturday Night Live" than on WBAI. <br /><br />You make a valid point re Delphine's idea, but I don't think anything can generate hope for a speedy demise of WBAI as well as those Christine Blosdale infomercials. <br /><br />Thanks for your comments.Chris Albertsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12056345320709233401noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4486287910626602438.post-17853098499247666912013-07-31T16:29:43.820-04:002013-07-31T16:29:43.820-04:00Say what you will about JUC but at least we had so...Say what you will about JUC but at least we had some time free of Null and Knight!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4486287910626602438.post-45958799278116940852013-07-31T15:20:15.326-04:002013-07-31T15:20:15.326-04:00I really don't see that with Hamilton and alth...I really don't see that with Hamilton and although I have heard a lot of really bad nationalist stuff on BAI and although it's politically bad that is hardly the worst stuff on the air there. For instance a little while ago I heard Kathy Davis interviewing some guru type. His rant sounded to me like a Professor Irwin Corey routine - it was beyond laughable. When he was finished though Davis and somebody else who was there gushed all over him as if he had just recited something profound.<br /><br />As for Delphine's suggestion - I'm afraid that when people hear the contrast with most of what is on the air now they will hope for BAI's speedy demise!<br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4486287910626602438.post-28391222407927645242013-07-12T05:44:56.851-04:002013-07-12T05:44:56.851-04:00I used to think Hamilton had one of the better sho...I used to think Hamilton had one of the better shows, although I was always bothered by his mannered speech. I have known people from Guyana; they spoke English with an accent, but none of them sounded artificial. When I put my positive views of Hamilton in the past tense, it is because I have since revised them, somewhat.<br /><br />There is—to me, at least—a noticeable and steadily increasing emphasis on all things black at WBAI. This includes the general promo spots for the station, music played between shows, and subject matter. Esther Armah is an unfortunate example of this kind of narrowcast, Michael Haskins is becoming intolerable with things like his "Lynching: An American Tradition," a CD he produced with Sally O'Brien and Dred Scott Keyes, and Kathy Davis inadvertently confirmed what I have been saying for some time, that they use the term "community" as a metaphor for "black and brown." I have spent most of my long life around black people, socially as well as in my work in the jazz and blues field, so it is not the race aspect that bothers me here, it is the racism. This group seems determined to turn WBAI into a black station, but not an intelligent one.<br /><br />Lately, I have noticed Hugh Hamilton leaning that way, increasingly. It's a shame, because he is an intelligent, knowledgable man who does his homework and treats guests with due civility. As for the Burnham connection, I have also heard that, but not see any proof.<br /><br />Thanks for your comments—sorry to have been so verbose. Chris Albertsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12056345320709233401noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4486287910626602438.post-12268181267048252932013-07-12T03:19:49.481-04:002013-07-12T03:19:49.481-04:00I happen to think that Hugh Hamilton has one of th...I happen to think that Hugh Hamilton has one of the better shows on BAI and I think his departure would be a loss. This despite that I have heard (and I don't even know if this is true - I've just heard it), that he was associated with the Burnham faction in Guyana.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4486287910626602438.post-4582913718245020532013-07-11T14:12:58.931-04:002013-07-11T14:12:58.931-04:00I know what you mean. Delphine left of her own acc...I know what you mean. Delphine left of her own accord, driven by integrity, I think. When Mike Feder was somebody's guest the other day, he mentioned that he had proposed a show to management, but they never got back to him—typical. It is amazing to see how many talented people WBAI has discouraged in recent years, and how many hopelessly bod ones they have either invited in or allowed to stay. It is almost as if they were on a suicide mission. Thanks for contributing your comment.Chris Albertsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12056345320709233401noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4486287910626602438.post-42020604185533244392013-07-11T13:31:28.363-04:002013-07-11T13:31:28.363-04:00I used to listen to Delphine Blue and Mike Feder. ...I used to listen to Delphine Blue and Mike Feder. That neither of them is there now speaks volumes about what things have come to at BAI.<br /><br />The only things still worth hearing on BAI are "Democracy Now" and Andrea Sears' interviews on the evening news program. At least I'll still be able to see/hear Amy Goodman if/when BAI goes off the air.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4486287910626602438.post-32324142072230186972013-07-09T16:52:38.014-04:002013-07-09T16:52:38.014-04:00Thank you for your comments. I, too, think Delphin...Thank you for your comments. I, too, think Delphine has the right idea—she is one of the few regular hosts who has shown true concern for what is being done to WBAI, She quit when it became clear that this management is not going to show any responsibility or make any meaningful changes. I admire her for that and for the fact that she is still showing genuine concern.<br /><br />As for WBAI being able to raise the money it needs, I can attest to the fact that this can be done without sacrificing program quality or resorting to fundraising scams. What the station needs is intelligent programing that isn't narrowly focused on one or two segments of the market. Intelligent programing obviously requires a major change in personnel, from the manager on down.<br /><br />ChrisChris Albertsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12056345320709233401noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4486287910626602438.post-79125723395708354212013-07-09T16:27:36.846-04:002013-07-09T16:27:36.846-04:00>>>All of this worked for far too long, b...>>>All of this worked for far too long, but there came a time when WBAI's management, front-office cronies, and—very likely—Pacifica's board could no longer obscure the fact that listeners were abandoning the station in droves and outrageous bills were piling up like traffic in a flash fog.>>><br />Yes / this is copied and quoted from the blog above. <br />maybe the economy and strategy of those who pull the strings in the NYC, NYS and USA media markets that has given us the lies and let the "fox" into the discussion are somewhat also to blame. I was aware of the GN deceptive self service. appealing to sick folks with cures and all. we do live in a sick society. the money BAI needs can seemingly not be raised by the music, arts and political awareness shows. <br />if BAI can cut real costs, keep the transmitter on the air and return to the quality and high standards of the olde BAI; that represents the best of pacifica.<br />GN pays the bills BUT makes BAI obliged to that leach. Delfin Blue has a great suggestion, I would add that BAI needs continuity and programing to be able to survive. There is much that needs to ge done, we can save what is best, stop selling snake oil to those desperate GN listeners, we must keep the faith and avoid factionalism. please we need BAI <br />a volunteer and long time listener Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com