Today was the first torrentially rainy day of autumn. It didn’t get anyone’s mood down, really, but it did seem to bring productivity to a standstill. That got me thinking. We talk about things we’ll do “on a rainy day.” But when that day comes, what do we really do? We rest. We veg. We putter.

I’d be hard-pressed to name anything I actually accomplished today. That’s not something I’m terribly proud of, mind you. I read webcomics, including a sizable chunk of the Queen of Wands archives. I played Neopets, including some good high scores at Sutek’s Tomb… for myself and one of my coworkers, no less. It wasn’t much better when I got home. We had microwaved leftovers for dinner, watched anime, played computer games and now we’re all headed for bed.

Of course tomorrow and the days immediately after will also be rainy days, technically speaking. Rain is what we get in the Pacific Northwest, and I’m quite fond of the rain for giving us so much wonderful greenery all the year ‘round. Tomorrow, however, I’ll be getting things done. Not because it’s a rainy day. Tomorrow will just be another, ordinary day.

Maybe that first big rainy day after a long stretch of sunshine is our cue from the world to slow down for a moment; it’s our time to change gears, at least for one day.

That’s certainly a more appealing notion than saying that we’re all a lazy bunch of louts who took today as an excuse to goof off, no?

Here’s something to ponder: If you had your memories removed, then lived a number of years as an essentially new person, then had your previous life’s memories restored, what would that be like? Which set of memories would “come first” when you thought back on your life? Would it be the most recent life, or the most distant life even though you only remembered it after you’d already lived a wholly different life?

As George Carlin once joked, “These are the thoughts that kept me out of the really good schools.” Heh.

This evening it occurred to me that many, if not all, of the major choices we make in life are exercises in trading one set of miseries for another, and hoping that the new miseries are more tolerable.

I don’t think I am inclined to share the details (or source) of this particular line of reasoning right now. Terribly sorry to disappoint you.

(One hastens to assure one’s loyal audience as well as transient viewers that one’s Blogathon efforts will remain free of such glum ponderings.)

Have you ever noticed that no matter how far you’ve come, how well things may be going, there’s always something that has to complicate things, or make them unpleasant? I admit I’m understating the issue somewhat… usually there are several somethings competing for the chance to bring you down, throw a wrench into the works, or what-have-you. Apparently, life is just a series of crises; usually the interval between them is either brief or nonexistent.

The absolute worst part is when you realize that there’s probably nothing at all you can do that’ll actually make things genuinely better.

But, what the hell. Life is all about keeping at it even when things look dire, right? At least, it’s gotten me this far…

(This entry is pieced together from things I’ve said in chats, private emails and comments to other websites, edited together with some new material and reworked phrasings. It is but one insider’s opinion, and should not be taken as gospel, let alone an informed view of how the business actually works. In other words, take all of this with as large a grain of salt as necessary.)

You know the adage about how only a fool fights a multi-front war? We’re now fighting ourselves (on the FM and AM dials, no less) and at least two other FM signals in town, one of them rather well established.

It leaves me shaking my head, wondering what the hell the Powers That Be were thinking. This is a questionable, if not just-plain-bad, idea and it’s being rolled out by several large companies nationwide in a great big hurry. Basically it’s a race to “establish” this new “anything-goes (as long as it’s all-hits)” format in every market in America, and whoever gets their signal flipped first, wins. Did I mention that every single one of these stations apparently must be named as if they were guys? Anthropomorphize much?

Henceforth I’ll be referring to this as the “$GUY” format, where $GUY is a variable you can fill in with the likes of Charlie, Ted, Bob, George, Steve or any number of other options and you’ll probably find a station with that name somewhere in the country by year’s end. I’m not kidding.

The format itself is strikingly, staggeringly uninteresting. It’s chart-topping hits from a wide time range. That, and only that. There’s no such thing as “deep cuts” (that is, partly-forgotten musical gems) in this format. So, music I got sick and tired of ages ago, on continual repeat? Thanks but no. I’d almost rather listen to the country station. (I said, “almost.” No offense, folks, it’s just not my cuppa.) Our CEO says, “It is not too strong a statement to say that each of these brands has already begun to electrify their respective cities.” Uh, yeah, the electrification here? It’s in the form of cattle prods, sir.

I believe Charlie won’t remain automated. Major radio companies are putting a lot of weight, in a very big hurry, behind this “new format” (they’re seriously thinking of it in those terms, I kid you not, even though it’s what back-country small-town stations have been doing for decades). They’re going to pour money, and therefore talent, at this thing hand-over-fist. At least, that’s my take so far. Mind you, I just heard that there are stations that have been on this format for months and haven’t yet added DJs. One can appreciate the appeal for the Powers That Be of not having to pay jocks’ salaries. I have absolutely no idea how they’re going to make these stations stand out without personalities, but what do I know?

So, the changeover. I heard about it at about 12:30pm yesterday, from my (local) boss. Mind you, I’d predicted it about three hours beforehand, based on bits and pieces I picked up over the last week, and the news that the sales managers responsible for KKSN-FM had been meeting with the GMs the previous night until 10pm. Various people obsoleted by the two station changes have been saying their goodbyes and cleaning up their stuff (physical and electronic) for the last 24 hours, and I expect a steady stream of “goodbye” emails for a few days yet to come. That part’s never fun, and after over a decade it still saddens me, every time. Maybe I’m just a SNAG at heart, after all.

Hmm. Naaaah. I’m just a softie.

In other news, Seattle’s seen its own format shakeup today. The station that formerly competed directly with KNDD “The End” has flipped to $GUY, thus ending a competition for the lead “classic alternative” (don’t get me started, just don’t) station in that town.

They’re calling theirs Jack, eh? Oh, the comedic possibilities! Of course, they’ll “sell” the format change to clients as being a “bold move into a hot new format” instead of “giving up on fighting KNDD.” Heh. I love this business, I tell ya.

Mind you, the spin from our side is equally insane… so, Entercom wants to win nationwide with the $GUY format, but when Infinity gets there first in Seattle it’s a “big win for Entercom,” solely based on the fact that The End no longer has a direct competitor? Riiiiight.

Radio. Come for the illusion of glamour, stay for the regularly scheduled insanity.

There’s no day so miserable that getting hugs from your kids can’t make “okay.”

No, really. That’s all I’ve got for you today. I don’t think I can expound on that in any valuable fashion. It is what it is.