Budgie on NPR?

[Budgie]

Your's truly might be on NPR. More details as they become available.

 

[Michele Zone]

Your's truly might be on NPR. More details as they become available.

Okay, not that it is any of my business, but I have to ask: given that you are here "anonymously" under a nom de plume, how in heck will we know it is you???

See, that is why I basically go by my actual name. Not that I will ever be on NPR...

Er, what I mean is: Congrats!!!

 

[The Irish One]

Are you going to plug Cyburbia like it's nobodys business??

 

[Cardinal]

A Cyburbian on NPR? I want to see that!

 

[JNL]

What is this NPR you speak of?

 

[SGB]

What is this NPR you speak of?

National Public Radio

 

[martini]

Nice! Be sure to let us know when it all goes down, and don't forget to plug the site if you can squeeze it in there!

 

[Dan]

If anything, I thought El Guapo would be the furst Cyburbanite on NPR. Tom and Ray love to hold forth about Volvos on Car Talk.

What is this NPR you speak of?

National Public Radio, or as they say on the broadcasts, "National ......... Public ......... Radio."

NPR is a godsend. If you're driving through the middle of nowhere, USA, you'll encounter radio wastelands, where few or no broadcast stations can be recieved. If you pick up anything on the car stereo, it'll be country music, norteño and ranchero music (sad Mexican polkas), farm reports (livestock auction prices, and crop and livestock prices at various markets, recited for hour after hour), or Juh-HEE-uhh-suh-hus. However, even in the most remote of radio wastelands, you'll almost always find an NPR station, usually between 88.1 and 91.9 MHz. It's America's version of BBC Radio 4, CBC Radio 1, or RNZ National Radio.

Some NPR stations will have primarily news and non-music shows, a few others play mostly classical music and jazz, but the majority lie in the middle. Many cities have more than one NPR station. NPR stations aren't really owned by NPR, but by a non-profit organization, foundation, university, or local or state government. Many broadcast shows provided by PRI, like Prairie Home Companion and Whad'Ya Know?.

Because the US government doesn't have domestic radio broadcasts, public radio is usually sponsored by a variety or foundations and corporations. Before a show, you'll often hear a pretentious-sounding list of foundation sponsors. (Not long ago, I finally realized what the NEEKC Foundation really was.) No commercials, although there are obnoxious pledge drives a couple of times a year. "A fifty dollar donation will earn you a wonderful tote bag!"

WCPN and WKSU are Cleveland's NPR stations. Buffalo, my smaller hometown up the road, is blessed with three NPR stations.

 

[freewaytincan]

NPR? I'm sorry, man.

 

[JNA]

If anythign, I thought El Guapo would be the furst Cyburbanite on NPR. Tom and Ray love to hold forth about Volvos on Car Talk.

I am too surprised or kind of expected it, Now that Dan has mentioned it.

 

[Dan]

From The Onion:

Corey Flintoff Unleashes Sonorous, Pleasantly Modulated String Of Obscenities

WASHINGTON, DC—Upon injuring a toe Sunday, Corey Flintoff, newscaster for NPR's All Things Considered, unleashed a string of rich, pleasantly modulated obscenities. "God f***ing dammit," Flintoff warmly intoned after dropping a heavy-duty router on his foot while working in his garage. "Stupid ****ing c******king son of a bitch." Added Flintoff in a lush baritone: "God**** motherf****** s***-for-brains. This is NPR." Next-door neighbor Cheryl Thomas, who overheard the tirade, said Flintoff's delivery was so melodic, she was unaware that he was swearing.

 

[el Guapo]

Manauga Nicarauga

No, if I was ever to make it on NPR it would be a scalding attack by the gang at All Things (liberal) Considered. Their expose of "Fascists in Planning" would surely have sound bites of my Nuremburg speeches and Nina Totenberg readings of my Cyburbia Manifestos. Yes indeed, my time on NPR wouldn't be a happy one for any of us. But I'd cherish the News Hour coffee mug premium I'd receive for my $36 donation.

BTW - Click and Clack crack me up. I love those guys.

PS Good Luck Budgie - Have fun and pronounce Guatemala for us NPR-Style when you get on the show.

 

[Richmond Jake]

Very cool, Budgie. Must have something to do with the Segway?

 

[Budgie]

Very cool, Budgie. Must have something to do with the Segway?

No it doesn't involve the Segway. But if you're familiar with the artistic way they put news stories together, I'll probably be described as,

"Mr. Budgie, the stikingly handsome, Segway gliding, Community Development Director of Anytown sits in his office filtering through legal opinions, statutes and maps. Regarding the issue at hand, this modern renasounce (spelling) man calmly and eloquently clarifies the larger community's position.

 

[Gedunker]

"Mr. Budgie, the stikingly handsome, Segway gliding, Community Development Director of Anytown sits in his office filtering through legal opinions, statutes and maps. Regarding the issue at hand, this modern renasounce (spelling) man calmly and eloquently clarifies the larger communities position.

Budgie, you forgot "MODEST"! 8-!

Say, are you taking over for Louisville native Bob Edwards, who just got shown the door?

 

[Budgie]

Budgie, you forgot "MODEST"! 8-!

My point is NPR tries to embellish. OK, I suppose they could say.

"Mr. Budgie, the stikingly slovenly, Segway geek, Community Development Director of Anytown sits in his office blowing his nose, picking his teeth and wiping the crumbs of a week old donut from his fraying and discolored shirt. Regarding the issue at hand, this atypical boobus americanus local government tweeker had little to say, but his belly did gurgle.

Is that NPR's style?

 

[Gedunker]

[WIPING COFFEE FROM MONITOR] Work mates checking in to see why Gedunker is howling [/WIPING COFFEE FROM MONITOR]

 

[JNA]

Double SNARF
because of Budgie's 2 postings.
bet ya the truth lays somewhere between those 2 postings. :-\

 

[Chet]

Liberal Commie Planner.

 

[mendelman]

Will this be brodcast nationally or only on your local NPR affliate?

 

[michaelskis]

IF this is national... I want a heads up... The radio sits on the cubicle wall between maister and I.

We will listen and enjoy. (Unless one of us is stuck with a head set attached to our melon while we are temporarily relocated to the front desk)

 

[Maister]

Will this be brodcast nationally or only on your local NPR affliate?

Yeah, are they going to pick this up nationally or just the local affilliate station? Bottom line - are many Cyburbians going to have a chance to hear the broadcast?

On a semi-related note, Yours Truly does 'old-time radio shows' which are broadcast on a couple of West Michigan Public Radio affiliate stations the 4th Sunday of each month at 6:00 p.m. However, if anyone gets a chance to listen they'll be more likely to hear me doing cartoon voices than discussing conservation easements.....

 

[Budgie]

However, if anyone gets a chance to listen they'll be more likely to hear me doing cartoon voices than discussing conservation easements.....

I like it.

 

[Rumpy Tunanator]

Will there be a call in session so I can asked this Budgie some questions pertaining to his leadership and performance at his local "AA" chapter?

 

[Maister]

I like it.

Yes, I have always wanted to assume my 'Bullwinkle' persona during a zoning board meeting, but have successfully fought the urge so far. Imagine the following exchange:
Chair - the applicant has noted that they did not recieve a copy of the 300 foot notification as required by statute. Does city staff know why that might be?
Bullwinkle - No sir, your honor, sir, I mean Mr. Chair, sir....

 

[Budgie]

Will there be a call in session so I can asked this Budgie some questions pertaining to his leadership and performance at his local "AA" chapter?

I've been a guest on a call in show about 4 times. It's alot of fun, but I don't believe the NPR bit will be interactive. Sorry !!!!! NOT !!!!

 

[Rumpy Tunanator]

I've been a guest on a call in show about 4 times. It's alot of fun, but I don't believe the NPR bit will be interactive. Sorry !!!!! NOT !!!!

Dew it to the extreme!!!!!!!!!! Sikeeeee (sp?)!!!!!!!

I've called shows to harass local politicians, nothing like stumping them with the facts.

 

[pete-rock]

I've called in several times to ask questions on a show called "Odyssey," which is broadcast locally on the NPR affiliate in Chicago. I don't know if it's broadcast nationally.

Is that enough for a partial claim of a Cyburbianite on NPR?

 

[Budgie]

Interview

The interview went well, the reporter has an excellent grasp of the issues. He said it will be a national story and he'll let me know when it airs (in the middle of April). I couldn't get in a plug for Cyburbia, but he did like my Segway.

At issue, a zoning topic that follows me around, SOB's. I love writing and rewriting the definitions of "Specified Anatomical Areas" and "Specified Sexual Activities". The confessions of a planner.

 

[Dan]

Does this have anything to do with the trend of adult bookstores, body rub spas, and other SOBs into rural areas by Interstate exits?

 

[Budgie]

Does this have anything to do with the trend of adult bookstores, body rub spas, and other SOBs into rural areas by Interstate exits?

DING, DING, DING, DING .... We have a winner. But there are some additional wrinkles concerning the testing of state statutes regarding the "selling of obscenity" and what constitutes "community standards". What's really funny about this whole thing is I'll probably sound like a prude, but we all know better. Sometimes it's hard to be apolitical. My proposed ordinance was unanimously made more stringent my the Planning Commission and I think that the City Commission will push the envelope on what is a "substantial or significant" portion of a business to be regulated as an SOB. In short, in defining what is an adult retail business, the City Commission is looking at making the threshold 5 times more restrictive than the strictest jurisdiction I've found, which was Dodge City, Kansas, which defines adult retail uses by a 10% display floor area devoted to adult materials (among other measures). I've dealt with this issue at my most recent previous public position. And I survived the media hype there. Now round two is making nationwide news. Our community has already been in the USA Today and on one of the prime time news shows. Now NPR. I've had jurisdictions and researchers from 4 states call me this past month and I bet there'll be another surge in mid-April. Happy, happy, joy, joy.

Oh, when and where is Laefest this year. I could use a night of drinking with no consequences.

 

[Budgie]

Son of a Budgie

I got this nice little e-mail today. This whole deal reminds me of a Brady Bunch episode where Greg's band was hoping to get some air time. Check it out anyway.

Thanks Budgie. I got word of the indictments Thursday. The story ran on Saturday on our All Things Considered Program. Because of the late developments, the story changed a little and I ended up not using a quote from you. Needless to say, the interview was still very helpful and I appreciate you making teh time for me. If you'd like to hear the story off the NPR website, the link is:

http://www.npr.org/rundowns/rundown.php?prgId=2&prgDate=3-Apr-2004

Greg Allen
Midwest Correspondent
NPR News

 

[Rumpy Tunanator]

For some reason I can not listen to it here. I'll have to check it out when I get home.